WTA News & Gossip 2023

[the AntiPusher]

Coco seems to be spreading herself thin.She has to reduce her doubles play because it takes away from her singles.I am sure she has improved her volleys and net play because of the doubles.Its time to focus on singles.She needs an experienced coach who can create a plan of action for her.Her loss today was partly to scheduling and her opponent was rested.

Coco and her team needs to really rank the goal for young Coco.. is it to be the best singles player EVER or the part of the conversation who was the best doubles player EVER.. Well, addressing the latter, the greatest doubles player is 1A (Johnny Mac\Martina Navratilova and anyone they play with ) and Martina Hingis/Bryan Brothas 1B. Johnny Mac played doubles rather than committing to lengthy singles practicing. Coco needs to go get the Richard Williams playbook and follow it to the T. IMO

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Garcia you should have not gone to a TB against WC Maria? I will take into consideration this is your first match on clay, winning 76(5)
Garcia defeats Maria, 76(5) 64, tight match!

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

The last match today before we head into the QFs in Stuttgart

Beatrix Haddad Maia vs Elena Rybakina, Elena must be prepared to have a lot of balls coming her way

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Well Beatriz delivered a bread stick to Rybakina in the 1st set 61
Lets see in set 2 if Rybakina has the answers against Beatriz?
Beatriz wins by retirement 61 3-1 over Rybakina
Rybakina retired due to a Hip Injury, seems like Hip injuries are the current injury at present with Bencic out till RG if she plays at all

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Stuttgart QFs,
Matches Friday 21st April,

I.Swiatek (1) vs K. Pliskova H2H Swiatek 1-0
A. Sabalenka (2) vs P. Badosa H2H Badosa 2-1
O. Jabeur (30 vs B.Haddad Maia H2H Jabeur 1-0
C.Garcia (4) vs A.Potapova First meeting on clay, 1 all, on HCs.

 

[the AntiPusher]

The last match today before we head into the QFs in Stuttgart

Beatrix Haddad Maia vs Elena Rybakina, Elena must be prepared to have a lot of balls coming her w

Ons Jabeur d Jelena Ostapenko 16 75 63, she used to all round variety, can absorb big hitters!

Wow I thought the match was over Ostapenko had total control of the game

 

[Fiero425]

Wow I thought the match was over Ostapenko had total control of the game

IDK how she wins against any top player? She looks & moves like a Bavarian haus-frau! You really just need to start moving her around!

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Elina Svitolina has accepted a wild card into Madrid

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Wow I thought the match was over Ostapenko had total control of the game

Never underestimate the 'wizardry' of Ons Jabeur! Osta only knows one way, bash the ball with little margin, her game comes unstuck, with players that can absorb her pace, mix their games up, use slice etc, this was the case in this match.

 

[Ellentonboy]

I heard some rumblings on the Tennis Channel here in the US that the WTA is no longer going to have 250 events that will accept a player ranked in the top 30. Anyone else hear this as well? The commentator said that tournaments need to apply for a license to become a 500 event if they wanted higher ranked participants. It seems to me that a WTA 250 will now be the equivalent of a WTA 125, maybe that is a stretch, but does anyone know the particulars?

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

I heard some rumblings on the Tennis Channel here in the US that the WTA is no longer going to have 250 events that will accept a player ranked in the top 30. Anyone else hear this as well? The commentator said that tournaments need to apply for a license to become a 500 event if they wanted higher ranked participants. It seems to me that a WTA 250 will now be the equivalent of a WTA 125, maybe that is a stretch, but does anyone know the particulars?

Thanks for this updated news, I have not heard anything, though I will do some further investigation

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

In a match which was their first meeting on clay, the young Russian Potapova continues to impress, defeating the No 4 seed Garcia in 3 sets 46 63 63
In the earlier match Sabalenka No 2 seed had a 3 set win over Paula Badosa 46 64 64,

 

[tossip]

Two Arab girls playing against each other..ain't that historic.Haddad is Lebanese and there is a large Lebanese community in Brazil.They settled there during the 70s war.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Impressive win from Jabeur winning 63 60, against Haddad Maia, love watching her especially on clay!

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

I heard some rumblings on the Tennis Channel here in the US that the WTA is no longer going to have 250 events that will accept a player ranked in the top 30. Anyone else hear this as well? The commentator said that tournaments need to apply for a license to become a 500 event if they wanted higher ranked participants. It seems to me that a WTA 250 will now be the equivalent of a WTA 125, maybe that is a stretch, but does anyone know the particulars?

I read this news from a head organizer of WTA500 in Ostrava, Tomas Petera, who said that in 2024 there will be a major change in tournaments. He said that in 2024 that Top 30 players will not be able to play WTA250 events.And those tournaments will have to up grade their license which is super expensive so we may lose them.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Last QF match of the day,
Iga Swiatek defending champion v Karolina Pliskova

 

[kskate2]

Iga drops the opener to Pliskobot after being down 2 breaks. But, true to form, she imposes her will and leads 3-0 in the 2nd.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Iga opened up her bakery shop and delivered a bread stick to Karolina in the 2nd set 61
Onto a 3rd set we go, love the way Iga consults her note book after she won the 2nd set lol!
Swiatek d Pliskova 46 61 62

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Semi Finals Stuttgart WTA500
Saturday 22nd April,

I. Swiatek (1) defending champion vs O.Jabeur (3) H2H Swiatek 3-2, their first meeting this year

A. Sabalenka (2) vs A. Potapova First meeting. Note this is the 3rd straight year that Sabalenka has made the SFs in Stuttgart

 

[PhiEaglesfan712]

I read this news from a head organizer of WTA500 in Ostrava, Tomas Petera, who said that in 2024 there will be a major change in tournaments. He said that in 2024 that Top 30 players will not be able to play WTA250 events.And those tournaments will have to up grade their license which is super expensive so we may lose them.

Watch Elise Mertens drop her world ranking to 31 just to compete in the 250s and statpad her career titles total.