WTA finals and ATP Masters
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China-season’s impact on rankings
After the US Open in September, players in the top 8 of the World Tennis rankings were somewhat sure of a position in the Singapore WTA Finals and at the London ATP Masters. This has changed. The timing of the strong Tennis season in China, just before the WTA finals in Singapore, and one month before the ATP Masters in London, has hugely impacted on the year-end rankings. A good many players now see the events in China and in a few European cities, as a means to better their rankings. The points collected in China by both genders, have shown the potential to change the current top 10 positions significantly. This means only a few in the top 8 after the US Open, are sure of a berth in the WTA Finals and ATP Masters.
Men’s scene
The player who stood out as the up and coming player in 2016 is Austria’s 23-year-old Dominic Thiem. At 21, a year ago, he was ranked 19, and now he is ranked 10. If not for his injury at the US Open, he could be even higher. Others from the next-generation players who were able to win a title this year are Australia’s Krygios and Belgium’s David Goffin.
Novak Djokovic is not sure he will end up No.1 for the 5th time in 2016. The man chasing him is Britain’s Andy Murray. The China Open title went to Murray when he beat Bulgaria’s Grigor Dimitrov in the final. That has given Murray an opening to become No.1 this year. Djokovic, the current No.1 has 13,540 points. Murray has narrowed Djokovic’s lead at 9,845 points. With one more month to go for the Men’s Masters in London, Djokovic’s position is not fully secure. Both of them are competing in Shanghai, making the China-season the battleground for the No.1 position.
The last few slots for the Men’s Masters in London opened up again. Only Djokovic, Murray, Wawrinka and Raonic are sure of their positions. Others will have to perform very well in China to secure the last 4 slots. For the first time in over a decade, Swiss maestro Roger Federer, now 35 years old, and Spain’s Rafael Nadal aged 30, are not in the top 4 of the rankings. If they are physically fit, they may appear in London for the Masters, which seems unlikely to me.
Women’s scene
British, Australian-born Johanna Konta made history, as the first Briton to reach the top 10, after Jo Durie in 1984. Konta’s performance is most commendable. From being ranked 147 just 17 months ago, she has reached the top 10. Playing her own style and rhythm, she beat USA’s Madison Keys in Beijing last week. It has shaken the sure slot Keys had in the WTA Finals. Konta’s steep climb has been from 665 in 2008, 15 in 2015 and currently to 9.
USA’s Madison Keys too has climbed up steadily to be ranked 7. She was 621 in 2009, 15 in 2015. Her hard hitting game, comparable to her countryman Andre Agassi, has matured, giving her a good many career titles.
The Women’s No.1 position has been taken by Germany’s Angelique Kerber, displacing Serena Williams. This is the big news for 2016. Not many expected this but, right at the beginning of the year, Kerber sent signals to this effect, winning the Australian Open and the US Open in September. Serena Williams losing to Carolina Pliskova in the semis of the same event, put Kerber on top.
Of the 8 slots to play in Singapore WTA-Finals, there are 5 certainties. Here too, the China-season has changed the 2nd half of the qualifying list. Poland’s Radwanska who won last year’s event in Singapore, won the title in Beijing and secured her position to play in Singapore. Her opponent in the China Open was Britain’s Konta.
Dominic Thiem
Doubles in 2016
Apart from the Chinese, there are two players from Asia who are prominent in Tennis. They are Japan’s Kei Nishikori and India’s Sania Mirza. Sania made the right move and switched to Doubles, giving up Singles. After some trials with some good players, she settled down with Switzerland’s former World No.1 Martina Hingis. It has turned out to be a very effective combination. I have seen them having easy passage against very good players, floating to survive and turning around to win matches from completely hopeless situations. In all situations, they are proving to be an effective combination.
This year, another pair has surfaced, who are consistently in the final rounds. They are France’s Carolina Garcia and Kristina Mladenovic, and on the road to Singapore they are ranked No.1. Veterans Mirza and Hingis are ranked No.1, and for them the WTA Final’s title is still within reach.
WTA Finals in Singapore
This event is from October 23 to 30. All qualifying players will have princely financial rewards with the prize money increasing as the rounds progress. The total prize money of US$ 7 million will be disbursed among 8 Singles players and 8 pairs of Doubles players. World No.1 Kerber may receive an additional cheque for her achievement.
George Paldano, Former intl. player; Accredited Coach of Germany; National, Davis-Cup, Federation Cup captain/coach– georgepaldano@yahoo.com