WTA Finals Riyadh 11/1 - 11/8 2025

[ashkor87]

I hear Andreeva has refused to be the 'spare tire', take Madison's place. Wish Keys had droped out in time to let Andreeva play for real.. now Alexandrova gets to play Rybakina instead of Keys.. she actually has a much better chance against Rybakina than Keys did! Strange are the ways of the WTA and tennis in general.

[ponchi101]

Has anybody ever hit a ball flatter than Elena? There is zero spin on the ball, except when she hits a slice. And then, that floats with no pace.
She makes Jimmy Connors look like Mats Wilander.

[ashkor87]

Interesting observation by Laura Robson: Coco's spin serve works well against Paolini because she is a tiny thing.. Sabalenka is tall, it falls nicely in her hitting zone, so it wont work so well..let us see..

[ponchi101]

Let's remember: by definition, a serve is s SHORT ball; it landed inside the service box, after all.
So, any slow second serve is a defensive shot.
Agree with that. Sabalenka can crush those balls because she is tall and the ball will rise between her hips and shoulder.

[ponchi101]

Anisimova/Swiatek has been a good example of "crush the ball" tennis. No finesse shots today from this two.
And Iga, on cue, takes an extra long bathroom break after dropping the second. Which makes no sense because the first set went to a TB and she did not go anywhere.

[ponchi101]

As stated above, when Iga get's pushed, she finds it hard to defuse that.
After 4-4 in the 2nd, Amanda won 8 of the next 10 games. It was not that Iga went away, but Amanda started hitting a bit harder (hard to believe) and Iga's game just could not handle it.

This makes that double bagel at Wimby more puzzling. Sure, Iga could have beaten her anyway. But why the score? It is obvious that Amanda can go toe-to-toe with her.

[ptmcmahon]

Anisimova/Swiatek has been a good example of "crush the ball" tennis. No finesse shots today from this two.
And Iga, on cue, takes an extra long bathroom break after dropping the second. Which makes no sense because the first set went to a TB and she did not go anywhere.

Although we know why she took the extra long bathroom break... in theory if you didn't take a bathroom break after first set, you would expect to need a longer one after the second

[ponchi101]

Sure. It is just that her pattern is so blatant. Win the set, do not take the break so you do not break your rhythm. Lose the set, take the break, as long as possible, to disrupt your opponent's rhythm.
She is not a good loser. But I gather you must have a bit of that if you want to be as successful as she has been.

[ptmcmahon]

First set Pegula, and now up a break - I was an hour off on start time and just seeing now

[Suliso]

A straight set win should guarantee a SF spot for Pegula.

[ptmcmahon]

Not for 100% sure.

Pegula wins in straight sets.

3 Scenarios:

Sabalanka wins - #1 Sabalenka, #2 Pegula

Gauff wins in 2 sets - #1 Gauff, #2 Pegula

Gauff wins in 3 - Three way tie comes down to total games.

Actually, let me check the # games won...

[jazzyg]

If Gauff wins in 3 sets and has at least 4 more total games than Sabalenka, Gauff advances as runnerup behind Pegula. If Gauff wins in 3 sets but with less than a 4-game advantage, Sabalenka is the runnerup to Pegula.

[ptmcmahon]

Yes, Pegula is through for sure - winning in less games was also a big help, not just winning in straights.

Pegula is 43-31 games
Sabalenka is 26-17 games
Gauff is 24-23 games

Even if she loses in 3, Sabalenka cant lose more games than she wins and stay ahead of Pegula - so in that case Gauff couldn't also pass her.

So Pegula is safe.

If Gauff wins in 3 she needs to gain a few games on Sabalenka. Will depend on score of first two sets

[ptmcmahon]

If Gauff wins in 3 sets and has at least 5 more total games than Sabalenka, Gauff advances as runnerup behind Pegula. If Gauff wins in 3 sets but with less than a 5-game advantage, Sabalenka is the runnerup to Pegula.

So the announcers saying would be better for Pegula with a 2 set match are off.

It goes by game% not the actual game difference... wonder if possible Gauff may be ok with 4, or need 6 more games in some scenarios? Let me get my excel out

[jazzyg]

Game difference and game percentage will work out the same most of the time.

Gauff is 24-23, not 26-23.

Edit: Gauff has to win by 5 games if it goes 3.