Who wins Singapore?

[Correspondent Kiu]

http://www.wtafinals.com/home

Serena won the year end championship last year, she scored maximum points too.

Who wins this year?

I listed the ladies according to rank.

 

[tented]

Good question. So many of them are compromised in one way or another, so it's difficult to say who will prevail.

I'm always reticent to bet against Serena, because she's such an accomplished champion, but is she in the right place, physically, to win? That's the question.

I'll vote for her, anyway, but if it's not her, then I think Sharapova will win.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Serena Williams to win Singapore,thus clinching the No 1 spot for 2014.

Serena has all the motivation at Singapore.Serena has a winning record against the other ladies at Singapore,the court suit's Serena's game,providing Serena is fit and healthy,personally I can't see her being defeated.My Dark Horse in this tournament is Petra Kvitova (I have outlined my reasons why in the Road to Singapore post).

 

[honey1269]

I have doubts if Serena will even play...

 

[GameSetAndMath]

If Serena plays and is healthy, she will take it.

Otherwise, it is Petra.

Otherwise, it is Dominatrix.

Other girls don't stand a prayer.

p.s. Maria wins in three sets only even when she does. Winning efficiently counts in maing it
to SF. So, if there are players each with 2 wins (and the other with 0 wins) or
three players each with 1 win (and the other with 3 wins) in Maria's group and
Maria is one of the three, she will surely miss the cut.

 

[Sundaymorningguy]

I think Serena will be extra motivated to win this given what is at stake and who she could possibly lose her ranking to if she doesn't perform.

 

[Correspondent Kiu]

I guess none of the top seeds would want Petra in their group!

I will give the edge to Petra, this is by no means the same Serena from 2013.

 

[sk310]

Even with Serena compromised this tournament still suits her. Lets say she has one off day in the round robin but still wins two, chances are she'll make it. If she makes it to the semifinals you KNOW she has the motivation to push herself through two more matches.

Right about now I'm happy for Serena and all these hurt or sick girls that the WTA has a longer off-season than the men's side. The top 10 really took a beating in the fall swing.

 

[HawkEye]

I voted for Petra. I believe Serena is not ready and Petra will take it.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

I voted for Petra. I believe Serena is not ready and Petra will take it.

May I ask you why you feel 'Serena is not ready'?

I have picked Kvitova as my Dark Horse,it is her fourth consecutive year making the YEC
She has a outstanding indoor record.She does not however have a good h2h against either Serena or Maria.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Kvitova is too white to be a dark horse.

 

[Correspondent Kiu]

I voted for Petra. I believe Serena is not ready and Petra will take it.

It's hard not to admit, Masha is sitting pretty too. Having her own group helps too, all she needs is to have Petra knock Serena out!

No one has won YEC 3 times in a row since Monica did it 1990-1992, even the great Graf failed.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

I voted for Petra. I believe Serena is not ready and Petra will take it.

It's hard not to admit, Masha is sitting pretty too. Having her own group helps too, all she needs is to have Petra knock Serena out!

No one has won YEC 3 times in a row since Monica did it 1990-1992, even the great Graf failed.

Motivation is the key here for Serena winning Singapore.Serena will be fired up to win Singapore and clinch the No 1 position for 2014.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

I voted for Petra. I believe Serena is not ready and Petra will take it.

It's hard not to admit, Masha is sitting pretty too. Having her own group helps too, all she needs is to have Petra knock Serena out!

No one has won YEC 3 times in a row since Monica did it 1990-1992, even the great Graf failed.

Even if Kvitova wins over Serena in RR, that will be just one loss for Serena and she
can still qualify for the semifinals. So, for your scenario to materialize, Kvitova should
knock out Serena in SF. But, for that Kvitova should be in Maria's group. But, then
she may score a win over Maria and Maria might even be left out of the semifinals
if she only scores three set wins over the other two girls.

 

[sk310]

I voted for Petra. I believe Serena is not ready and Petra will take it.

It's hard not to admit, Masha is sitting pretty too. Having her own group helps too, all she needs is to have Petra knock Serena out!

No one has won YEC 3 times in a row since Monica did it 1990-1992, even the great Graf failed.

Even if Kvitova wins over Serena in RR, that will be just one loss for Serena and she
can still qualify for the semifinals. So, for your scenario to materialize, Kvitova should
knock out Serena in SF. But, for that Kvitova should be in Maria's group. But, then
she may score a win over Maria and Maria might even be left out of the semifinals
if she only scores three set wins over the other two girls.

Fingers crossed for that scenario

 

[Correspondent Kiu]

I voted for Petra. I believe Serena is not ready and Petra will take it.

It's hard not to admit, Masha is sitting pretty too. Having her own group helps too, all she needs is to have Petra knock Serena out!

No one has won YEC 3 times in a row since Monica did it 1990-1992, even the great Graf failed.

Even if Kvitova wins over Serena in RR, that will be just one loss for Serena and she
can still qualify for the semifinals. So, for your scenario to materialize, Kvitova should
knock out Serena in SF. But, for that Kvitova should be in Maria's group. But, then
she may score a win over Maria and Maria might even be left out of the semifinals
if she only scores three set wins over the other two girls.

It seems I have wild imagination!
What if Serena gets Ana, Petra and Caro in her side leaving Masha with Genie, Simo and Aga?

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

^ You are talking hypothetically now?

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

I love Kiu always stirring the Pot

 

[GameSetAndMath]

I voted for Petra. I believe Serena is not ready and Petra will take it.

It's hard not to admit, Masha is sitting pretty too. Having her own group helps too, all she needs is to have Petra knock Serena out!

No one has won YEC 3 times in a row since Monica did it 1990-1992, even the great Graf failed.

Even if Kvitova wins over Serena in RR, that will be just one loss for Serena and she
can still qualify for the semifinals. So, for your scenario to materialize, Kvitova should
knock out Serena in SF. But, for that Kvitova should be in Maria's group. But, then
she may score a win over Maria and Maria might even be left out of the semifinals
if she only scores three set wins over the other two girls.

It seems I have wild imagination!
What if Serena gets Ana, Petra and Caro in her side leaving Masha with Genie, Simo and Aga?

Good try, that will be the worst possible group for Serena.

Having said that, such grouping cannot occur in real life. This is because Caro and Ana cannot both
be in the same group. Similarly, Genie and Aga cannot both be in the same group as per
the draw procedure.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

^ Indeed...nice try Kiu though