Who’s who at the WTA Finals in Guadalajara

Who's who at the WTA Finals in Guadalajara

The WTA Finals in Guadalajara (Mexico) start this Wednesday with two Spanish women in the running, Garbiñe Muguruza and Paula Badosa, a circumstance that had not occurred since 2000 with Arantxa Sánchez Vicario and Conchita Martínez. The faces will not be seen in the previous phase, after the draw. The tournament is very open, with the resignation of number one Ashleigh Barty, and without Naomi Osaka, who has not competed since the US Open in a season marked by her mental health problems. There are no past WTA Finals champions among the eight. Not even a finalist.


Enlarge

From left to right, Kontaveit, Muguruza, Sakkari, Sabalenka, Krejcikova, Pliskova, Swiatek and Badosa.

Aryna Sabalenka (Belarus)

Age: 23
Ranking: 2nd
Titles: 10 (2 in 2021)

The Belarusian debuts in the teachers’ appointment after reaching the semifinals of Wimbledon and US Open, where she lost to Karolina Pliskova and Leylah Fernández, respectively. Winner this year in Abu Dhabi and Madrid, her record is 44-16. And 13 of his losses were to three sets. Sell ​​your skin expensive.

Barbora Krejcikova (Czech R.)

Age: 25
Ranking: 3rd
Titles: 3 (3 in 2021)

The Czech, champion at Roland Garros in addition to Strasbourg and Prague, arrives demanded by the effort of playing the finals of the Billie Jean King Cup last week. In addition, he will also play the Finals in doubles with Siniakova, with whom he won the Olympic gold and triumphed at Roland Garros.

Karolina Pliskova (Czech R.)

Age: 29
Ranking: 4th
Titles: 16 (0 in 2021)

The most veteran of the squad, she resigned from the Federation Cup finals in her country to prepare for the WTA. It is his fifth consecutive appearance and the semifinals have been his ceiling in the last three editions. He’s lethal on serve (364 aces this year and a leader in four of the last six seasons). Number one in 2017, he has two Grand Slam finals.

Garbiñe Muguruza (Spain)

Age: 28
Ranking: 5th
Titles: 9 (2 in 2021)

The Spanish returns to the teachers’ appointment for a fourth participation (she did not qualify in 2018 and 2019 and in 2020 they were not held) and her best result is the 2015 semifinals. She began the 15th year and is 5th in the ranking, with titles in Dubai and Chicago. However, the Grand Slams (champion of Roland Garros 2015 and Wimbledon 2017) have resisted him this course.

Maria Sakkari (Greece)

Age: 26
Ranking: 6th
Titles: 1 (0 in 2021)

Another debutante. The first Greek in the Women’s Masters has improved a lot this year, with seven wins to three losses against top-10 players. His semifinals at the US Open, Roland Garros and Miami have served to obtain the pass. He only has one title, Rabat 2019, but his strength this year makes him dangerous.

Anett Kontaveit (Estonia)

Age: 25
Ranking: 8th
Titles: 5 (4 in 2021)

Also a premiere, the Estonian starred in a fabulous final sprint to reach Guadalajara. A 26-2 record in his last seven tournaments has earned him four titles (Cleveland, Ostrava, Moscow and Cluj-Napoca). But in the big did not shine.

Iga Swiatek (Poland)

Age: 20
Ranking: 9th
Titles: 3 (2 in 2021)

After her brilliant appearance at Roland Garros 2020, lifting the title, the Polish has triumphed in 2021 in Adelaide and Rome. She hasn’t played since Indian Wells, and she seems fresher than the rest of her rivals. At 20, she is the youngest in the tournament.

Paula Badosa (Spain)

Age: 23
Ranking: 10th
Titles: 2 (2 in 2021)

The Spanish confirmed in 2021 what she had been aiming for since she won Junior Roland Garros in 2015. She has released her record with Belgrade and the WTA 1,000 of Indian Wells, the fifth largest, which puts her in the top-10 for the first time in her career. career. His confidence has made him come back nine games this year that he started losing. More than anyone.

Leave a Comment