Appealing exhibition of belief, courage, skill, tactics, sweat and dedication
View(s):The WTA tennis elites
Images of the eight WTA finalist in Riyadh, from November 2, exhibits and asserts the appeal of women tennis players. Every performing strait of theirs, certify best of development effort, dedication and character. They are encouraging lead to future players and unmistakable visual advice to becoming a tennis player. I see no weakling in the eight qualified. So dedicated and ever so honourable, world will have to remember them.
Aryna Sabalenka, Iga Swiatek
Without doubt, their tennis was the best in WTA in 2024. At times, they did doubt themselves and registered defeats. [Sabalenka’s life along with Victoria Azerenka is not easy coming from Belarus] Sabalenka is the only player to beat current WTA No.2 Iga Swiatek frequently this year.
Their encounters sets the stadium on fire. This year Swiatek went into an injury spell and is recovering. Being on top means always innovating the game and increase the ability to upgrade ever changing increasing speed and tactics. These two survived, that is saying a lot.
Krejickova – WTA new ruling
Only the Top 8 in the ranking permitted to play in the year-end final, it has a huge purse. WTA players’ committee and WTA management initiated new ruling this year. Permitting current year Grand Slam winners into the yearend final. For this, they have to be in the Top 20 positions of the ranking. Barbora Krejickova ranked 12, had an injury spell after winning 2024 Wimbledon title, she became the first recipient this WTA award.
Krejickova, in her opening match of the round robin stage of the event, was leading Swiatek 6/3, 3/1. Swiatek, ranked second, is now with a new coach and turned the tide to beat Krejickova in three sets. Krejickova known to be a formidable exponent of the game possessing lethal strokes and calculating tactics, unfortunately her injury is still lingering.
Gauff and Pegula of USA
In 1900, donner of Davis Cup, Dwight Davis promoted tennis in the USA. To date the continent of USA is living true to his efforts. USA in 2024 provided two of the eight WTA finalists. Down the memory lane, when Serena Williams was dominating WTA, teenage parade consisting of Bianca Andreescu, Leyla Fernandez, Coco Gauff, Naomi Osaka, and Emma Raducanu stormed into WTA tennis and made significant impact. Today, out of the five, Coco Gauff is the lonely American survivor. Very comfortably at WTA No.3 with a Grand Slam title. In the opening match in Riyadh, she beat fellow American Jessica Pegula.
Finding the energy and initiatives is not easy to break into the elite tennis circle. Survival of Gauff proves staying power is not everyone’s cup of tea. She is one of five from the starburst teenage parade after Serena Williams. Gauff is a rare person.
Jasmini Paolini of Italy
Sensation of 2024, she is barely a five footer and jokes saying ‘that’s all I got’. She is the best proof of the saying, ‘little things go a long way’. In the midst of six footers and six plus footers, only a search will spot her in the elite crowd. A phenomenon in modern tennis. Once again, she too found her footing in Singles via playing Doubles. Her parentage is Euro African. She has already seized the attention and the heart of the tennis world. Delightful player to watch.
Rybakina, Qinwen – Asians
Through these two from Kazakhstan and China, are in WTA tennis. Zheng Qinwen was the gold medallist at the Olympic. She matches the rest of the elites of the WTA Top 10 in every aspect. Ever since world saw Li Na’s tennis winning Australian Open, no one doubts the strength of Chinese tennis. Zheng Qinwen is another Chinese to remember. In prediction, especially after the gold medal in Paris Olympics 2024, I feel she will win a Grand Slam title soon.
Elena Rybakina has been Top 10 of WTA for a good while. Russian by birth, with unusual height, appealing fluency in stroke making, takes and delivers power play. These will keep her in WTA ranking for a good while. We are bound to see her in many more WTA finals in the next few years.
WTA spectrum and entry
To enable entry into the WTA tennis world, the body has 1650 events in 85 countries spanning six continents. Points awarded and updated for every Monday release. The 52-week ranking is from 16 best performance in Singles and 11 in Doubles of a player. They need not travel very far in early stages of their carrier for WTA ranking.
At present, there are coaches who understand the early development of players and will assist in selection of events appropriate. Even players in thousand plus position of WTA ranking are, with elites who win Grand Slam events. Something to be proud of and useful plus in all carrier path of a person.
–George Paldano, European and Asian competition player; Coach German Tennis Federation; National coach Brunei and Sri Lanka; Davis Cup, Federation Cup coach, coached ATP, WTA and ITF ranked players in Europe and Asia; WhatsApp +94775448880–