Singapore Final: Serena Williams vs. Simona Halep

[Calvy]

Simona is currently like a lot of players we've seen who can be implacable destroyers in the early rounds, but once the spotlight's on full blast and the gold bullion at stake, she drops a calf. She went away too handily today, losing the last 8 games, and her last five service games. Regardless of how well Serena played - and she's the most formidable force in WTA - this is disappointing. I think she has it in her to have a few dominant seasons in the sport when Serena tails off, but she really needs to win big somewhere next season...

Azarenka started out that way as well. It took a few years of hovering in the top 10 before she put it all together and started winning the big moments.

Speaking of Azarenka, she is currently #32 in the world. I hope that changes quickly because if she finds her form quickly that will be quite a nightmare for any top player who might run into her early. I wonder if she might receive a modified seeding in Australia since she has performed well there.

Australia doesn't do modified seeding, only Wimbledon.

 

[Hoergren]

Only if she qualifies for a protected ranking. In order to do that she would need to be out for at least 6 months and make an application w/ the WTA.

As far as I know Australian Open can - as a slam - make the seedings as they like without contacting the WTA and let's see if they don't do that. I think they'll place her among the top 16 seeds.

 

[pavlik89]

[video=youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xtq1mbPw8e0[/video]

 

[faradubii]

The final was a letdown after 2 great semifinals. They both started very tense and the first to get calm was Serena, showing what it means to be a champion. She never let Simona get back and she run away with it.
Good week for Simona, ending the year on a high note, bodes well for 2015.
For Serena some say this was a so so year, which is ridiculous, considering she won 7 titles including a GS and the YEC and YE #1, not to mention a whole year as the #1. Shows at what standard we see her, head and shoulders above the rest.

 

[pavlik89]

[video=youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FmzahG9Imps[/video]

 

[rugged]

Hey MarshaFan - I can't see you! LOL. Are you here? (evil grin). You were practically the first one here after Serena's loss to Halep going on and on about what would Serena fans use as an excuse. What is your excuse for not being here. Probably at home clipping pictures of Marsha from magazines so you can paste them in your "I love Marsha Scrapbook." Oh well, I am sure you are hoping and praying that Marsha can hold on to the number 2 spot. We all know it has been a revolving door: Vika, Li Na, Halep and now Marsha. I think either Petra, Caro or Halep will get it. Is Marsha back in Russia yet? Giggles, laffs, he he

P.S. you never answered my question about being back on Tennis Frontier Forum. I ask because you posted on Tennis.com that you wouldn't come back here. But I guess once posters on Tennis.com tired of you your options were limited. Welcome back!

 

[pavlik89]

[video=youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L-YfCdW8m58[/video]

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Looks like there was some miscommunication. Simona tanked the wrong match.

Congratulations to Serena for a great end to the year.

 

[Sundaymorningguy]

I think this tournament showed us 2015 is wide open. We had Petra and Maria winning big in the fall only to fall flat on their faces in Singapore. We had Serena nearly joining them, but like always, she fought hard and held on to be the last one standing. We also saw the rise of Halep and Caro again during this tournament which bodes well for their slam chances next year. Ana also ended the tournament well despite not making the semis. It really does leave question marks about how 2015 will go. I think the only certainty guaranteed is Serena will still be around, have her off days here and there, but she will hang tough and get the win for the most part.

 

[sk310]

And just like that our beloved sport ends its season :'(. I guess we should feel glad we have a 10 month sport where most have at most 4 or 5. Still.. It's going to be a LONG November and December.

 

[Calvy]

Only if she qualifies for a protected ranking. In order to do that she would need to be out for at least 6 months and make an application w/ the WTA.

As far as I know Australian Open can - as a slam - make the seedings as they like without contacting the WTA and let's see if they don't do that. I think they'll place her among the top 16 seeds.

I disagree, slams, aside from Wimbledon, should follow the ranking system when seeding players.

Player compete in smaller events so they can earn the points and seeding for the biggest events, and to arbitrarily just seed players based on past history/results undermines the work that the players put in during the year.

Wimbledon is a special case, only because there are so few grass events and the grass season tends to be all of 4 weeks out of the year.

 

[Front242]

 

[Sundaymorningguy]

Hmmmm...I wonder what Serena is doing in Singapore in December. She said on Twitter see you again in December. She playing an exhibition?

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Which bubble are you in. She is participating in a circus on behalf of Singapore Slammers. Your complete guide to circus is here. There is a thread in Men's Tennis on circus.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

I am opposed to that 'circus' still at the end of the day,it is up to any player if they want to compete.

 

[Sundaymorningguy]

I am sorry, but I don't pay attention to it unless Serena updates it on her site and lately she has been lazy about updating things.

 

[tossip]

congrats Serena for redeeming yourself,that rr match just seems so faraway.Halep surprised Serena in that rr match...now she is a marked woman...she better ask pova how it feels to be beaten over and over again..

 

[special700]

what was the payout for the doubles final?

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

I did pose this question before,seeing Singapore is over do posters think it has been a successful tournament? can we compare the atmosphere and crowds to Istanbul?

I personally preferred Istanbul,it had Colour,Great Atmosphere,Crowds were soo appreciate of the tennis.

 

[kskate2]

While they had a huge turn out, I agree w/ Tossip that the crowd seemed a little unsure when to cheer. I also think they have to get that light situation fixed pronto.