WTA News & Gossip 2023

[PhiEaglesfan712]

This maybe the 'worst WTA 1000'
A big chance for everybody that decides to show up
Players missing WTA Guadalajar 1000 ( so far)

Swiatek
Sabalenka
Gauff
Rybakina
Pegula
Vondrousova
Muchova
Kvitova
Krejcikova
Samsonova
Vekic
Zheng
Linette
Cirstea
Martic
Zhu
Noskova
Blonkova
Gracheva
Tsurenko
SST

And this is why tennis loses a lot of momentum among casual fans after the US Open. They need to put a tennis tournament with high stakes in this spot to keep the momentum with these fans. I think Indian Wells can be done here on odd years, and Rome/French Open on even years. We saw that happen in 2020 and 2021, and I thought it was great for the game. But a tournament with a lot of top players out at this time of the year is something that just cannot happen.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Results of the first 2 QFS in San Diego WTA500 tournament,

S.Kenin d A.Potapova 62 63. Potapova looked to be compromised on her serve, serving badly in this match
Caroline Garcia No 2 seed cant see to win consecutive matches these days, Collins easily defeated her 62 63

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

In the 3rd QF match at the San Diego WTA500 tournament,

Barbora Krejcikova (4) wins 64 63 against Haddad Maia (7). Into her first SF since Birmingham which was the last time she won back to back matches.
In the night QF match Emma Navarro wins her first Top10 win as she beats Sakkari (3) 64 06 76(4)!

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

San Diego WTA Tournament
SF Matches, Friday 15th September,

B. Krejcikova (4) vs D.Collins
S. Kenin vs E.Navarro

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Goods News for San Diego WTA500 tournament, which had a tough date this year, the week after the US Open.
Next year it will be moving to the week before Indian Wells and as a 500 should get a very strong field with new restrictions on Top 30 players in 250's

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

For the first time since falling from #2 to #15 after RG last year, Barbora Krejcikova is heading back into the top 10. Barbora rallies past Collins in the first SF match 36 75 62 to reach the final in San Diego and lock up a return to the top ten next week

 

[PhiEaglesfan712]

Goods News for San Diego WTA500 tournament, which had a tough date this year, the week after the US Open.
Next year it will be moving to the week before Indian Wells and as a 500 should get a very strong field with new restrictions on Top 30 players in 250's

I'm not so sure a February date is good news. Tennis is the furthest thing in the mind of a casual fan at that time of year, so it will still have a tough time drawing viewers.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

American Sofia Kenin reaches her first WTA final since the 2020 French Open by defeating American qualifer Emma Navarro in the 2nd SF in San Diego 62 57 64.
Kenin will face Krejcikova in the final on Saturday
What a great tournament for Navarro who'll break into the top 50 on Monday

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

WTA500 San Diego Tournament,
Final Saturday 16th September, starting at 4pm,

B.Krejcikova (4) vs S.Kenin

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Guadalajara WTA1000 begins on Sunday 17th September,
There have been a lot of withdrawals from top players, including Jess Pegula who won her first WTA1000 title defeating Maria Sakkari 62 63 in the final last year.
Scheduling of this tournament soon after the USO does not help at all and another factor is the high altitude in Mexico, players having to adjust to the conditions.
Top 10 seeds,
1. Jabeur
2. Sakkari
3. Garcia
4. Keys
5. Bencic
6. Ostapenko
7. Kudermetova
8. Alexandrova
9. Haddad Maia
10. Azarenka

Wild cards Eugenie Bouchard and Ajla Tomljanovic.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

After a 4 year absence women's tennis in China is set to end, with the WTA holding 7 tournaments in the next 6 weeks as part of the tour's Asian swing.
After tournaments in China were cancelled due to COVID19, travel restrictions in 2020, the WTA suspended events in December 2021 over concerns about GS doubles champion Peng Shua's well being after the Chinese player made sexual assault accusations against a high ranking government official.
The WTA announced in April this year that it intended to return to China this season after assurances were received from those close to Peng that she was safe and well and 'that more progress could be made' by returning to China than staying away.

Source Associated Press.

 

[kskate2]

Guadalajara WTA1000 begins on Sunday 17th September,
There have been a lot of withdrawals from top players, including Jess Pegula who won her first WTA1000 title defeating Maria Sakkari 62 63 in the final last year.
Scheduling of this tournament soon after the USO does not help at all and another factor is the high altitude in Mexico, players having to adjust to the conditions.
Top 10 seeds,
1. Jabeur
2. Sakkari
3. Garcia
4. Keys
5. Bencic
6. Ostapenko
7. Kudermetova
8. Alexandrova
9. Haddad Maia
10. Azarenka

Wild cards Eugenie Bouchard and Ajla Tomljanovic.

With this decimated field, some player will stop the skid and totally revive their season.

 

[kskate2]

For the first time since falling from #2 to #15 after RG last year, Barbora Krejcikova is heading back into the top 10. Barbora rallies past Collins in the first SF match 36 75 62 to reach the final in San Diego and lock up a return to the top ten next week

Who is she evicting from the top ten to make her way back, Caroline?

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Who is she evicting from the top ten to make her way back, Caroline?

Yes, Caroline cannot string and win 2 matches together, a different Caroline we saw at this time last year, though Kenin wont be easy to defeat in the final at San Diego later today against Krejcikova

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Close for Sofia Kenin, on comeback trail, but Barbora Krejcikova takes the title at the WTA500 San Diego Open 64 26 64.4 BPs saved in Krejcikova's final service game, with 48 winners in all. 3 years since last final for Kenin

After a suitable rest,
Krejcikova/Siniakova (1) are in the doubles final, their opponents Collins/Vandeweghe

Krejcikova/ Siniakova (1) win the Doubles title defeating Collins/Vandeweghe 61 64
Coco Vandeweghe retiring this was her last tournament, age 31, hard to battle injuries for soo long.
Got to No 9 in singles and won 2018 USO doubles with Ash Barty
Bit hitter and big personality.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

19 year old American Ashlyn Kreuger locks up her maiden WTA title in Osaka defeating No 1 seed Lin Shu 63 76(6) well done !
Krueger will break into the Top 100, Will be No 73 on Monday

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

WTA Top Ten Monday 18th September,

1. Sabalenka
2. Swiatek
3. Gauff
4. Pegula
5. Rubakina
6. Vondrousova
7. Jabeur
8. Muchova
9. Sakkari
10. Krejcikova

Krejcikova back in the Top 10. Caroline Garcia exits

Top Movers of the week,
No 73 A. Kreger (USA) +50
No 53 S.Kenin (USA) +40
No49 E.Navarro (USA) +12

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Following the title run by Barbora Krejcikova and Katerina Siniakova in San Diego, Siniakova returns to the Doubles World No 1 ranking, just one week after being dumped out of the top spot.The 27 year old Czech replaces the American duo of Gauff and Pegula who took over the top spot after the US Open. Gauff and Pegula who did not play last week, drop to No 2, after Siniakova moved up 3 spots to regain the top spot.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Beatriz Haddad Maia, one of the top 20 players in Guadalajara's draw, withdraws before the tournament starts. Danielle Collins plays LL Saschia Vickery
Just read updated news on the reason Haddad Maia has to withdraw. The shower box of her hotel box 'exploded' in her hands. Had to go to hospital to get stitches in both hands.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Bencic has also retired from Guadalajar, due to gastro illness, LL Elvina Kalieva has replaced the No 5 seed Bencic. Danielle Collins retires, lower back injury. after losing the 1st set to LL Vickery was 5-2 up, this tournament is 'cursed'.The final count is that after the second day of the tournament, there are only 11 top 40 players left from which 6 still havent played yet.