[Biel, SUI - HCI] - SUI def. SRB 4-0 [Astana, KAZ - HCI] - KAZ def. KOR 3-1 [Bogota, COL - RCO] - COL def. FRA 3-2 [dd] [Velenje, NED - RCI] - NED def. SLO 3-1 [Guangzhou, CHN - HC] - CHN def. BEL 3-2 [dd] [McKinney (Tx), USA - HCI] - UKR def. AUT 3-2 [dd] [Sao Paulo, BRA - RCI] - BRA def. ARG 3-2 [dd] [Farum, DEN - HCI] - DEN def. MEX 3-2 [dd](L)
JUNIOR BILLIE JEAN KING CUP FINALS (Antalya, TUR/RCO)
F:USA def. ROU 2-1 [dd]
The USA Junior #BJK team won their third straight title and sixth in the last seven Finals. Having Tyra Grant on clay is a cheat code and she demonstrated it by dropping just 16 games in six impressive singles wins over opponents including Stusek, Sonobe, Paštiková, and Burcescu. pic.twitter.com/bd5yhFwC0Z
...there were more Bannerettes in tour finals (19) than players from any nation since 2016, and the 12 singles champions were the most from any country in a WTA season since 2010. The eight *different* women who lifted trophies was the most varied group of champions since the great Original Hordettes saw nine different winners crowned fourteen years ago. And the junior development continues.
In Antalya (TUR), Team USA won the 16s team title at the Junior Billie Jean King Cup, taking the honors for a third straight year and the sixth time in seven competitions since 2017.
The Bannerettes defeated the Czech Crushers in the final the last two years (as well as in '19), and this year had to face the Czechs in the semis. After a 2-0 sweep, the U.S. defeated Romania 2-1 in the final as Tyra Caterina Grant led the way, going undefeated on the week (6-0 singles, 2-0 doubles), including knotting the tie 1-1 vs. ROU (w/ a 2 & 1 win over Maia Ilinca Burcescu) and then winning the deciding doubles with Julieta Pareja over Burcesca & Giulia Safina Popa, 6-1/7-5.
USA Sweeps Billie Jean King, Junior Davis Cup Titles; Basavareddy Wins Australian Open Wild Card; Fritz Reaches ATP Final; NCAA Draws Posted; Wild Cards Reach W50 Final in Austin:
tenniskalamazoo.blogspot.com/2024/11/usa-...
...in a world without Diede...
And that's what they had in Arnhem (NED), as world #1 de Groot, who hadn't played since the Paralymics, was also out of the season-ending Wheelchair Masters event due to injury. De Groot's absence wraps up an odd year for the Dutch superstar roller, as she swept all three major WC singles titles in '24 (and won 2 of 3 WD slam crowns), yet played in just eleven events as she saw her 145-match winning streak end, failed to defend either of her Paralympic Golds, and even lost twice in a row to Yui Kamiji after having won 28 straight against the Japanese veteran.
De Groot won the Masters singles event the last six times it's been played, so her absence once again opened the door for the world #2 to shine. Kamiji dropped just one set over five matches in the event, going 3-0 in round robin play and then defeating Dutch vets Jiske Griffioen and Aniek Van Koot in the SF/F to take the title. Only a love 1st set in the final vs. Van Koot kept Kamiji's singles slate from being completely clean for the week. She charged back to win 0-6/6-4/6-4.
Kamiji's only other Masters singles title came in 2013, and she joins de Groot (2021), Griffioen (2016) and Esther Vergeer (2000, '04 and '08) as the only women who've completed a Paralympics/Masters singles title sweep in a season.
Kamiji closes out 2024 with a 53-2 mark vs. non-de Groot competition (2-4 vs. Diede), and is 145-4 in such matches from 2022-24 with streaks of 74 and 46 match wins. She ends '24 on an overall 13-match winning streak (19-1 run) *and* with that two-match streak over de Groot (her first since 2017) heading into '25.
Because of her slam wins and standing atop the wheelchair world, de Groot is still the clear WC Player of the Year for 2024, but Kamiji made major inroads over the course of the season as her longtime Dutch rival often struggled (even while winning) and missed time. Come January, Kamiji will be as close -- both figuratively and in the literal rankings -- as she's been to de Groot in quite some time.
De Groot will arrive in Melbourne two months from now having won four straight Australian Open titles, and six of the last seven.
===============================================
1. WC Doubles Masters Final - Jiske Griffioen/Aniek Van Koot def. Wang Ziying/Zhu Zhenwhen
...6-1/6-1. While de Groot and Kamiji post Hall of Fame level results, and Aniek Van Koot just keeps going and going, don't overlook how Griffioen has managed to climb her way back into the conversation at the top of wheelchair tennis in the second phase of her career.
The formerly #1-ranked Dutch veteran (the first ever Wimbledon WC singles champ) retired in mid-2017 after having swept Paralympic Gold in '16, returned in 2020, and is currently ranked #6 in her fifth season back at age 39. This year alone she's grabbed two of her three biggest titles since her return. In January she won a second 2.0 slam doubles crown (AO alongside Diede de Groot, with whom she won Wimbledon in '23, to give her 16 career WD wins), and now claims her eighth Masters doubles crown.
Griffioen's last Masters title was nine years ago in 2015 (also w/ Van Koot). She won her first Masters doubles title *twenty* years ago with Hall of Famer Esther Vergeer, the first of five straight wins for the pair.
===============================================
2. WC Masters Doubles SF - Jiske Griffioen/Aniek Van Koot def. Dana Mathewson/Manami Tanaka
...6-2/6-1. And thus the career of Mathewson, the *only* U.S. woman to win a major wheelchair crown ('22 Wimbledon doubles), comes to an end.
At least it seems as if there will be at leasts *one* U.S. female WC player of note left behind, as 17-year old Maylee Phelps (the former junior #1) heads up the NextGen teen set alongside Pastry Ksenia Chasteau, 18.
===============================================
*BJK CUP PLAYOFF RECAPS*
While the Finals event has been taking place in Spain, a whole *other* set of BJK ties (8, in fact, using the traditional best-of-5, two-day format) took place from Friday-Sunday in various cities around the globe, as the overly crowded final weekend of Cup play (Finals + Playoffs, as well as the Jr. Finals) identified half of the nations who'll advance into the '25 Qualifiers next spring with a shot to reach *next* year's Finals.
SUI def. SRB 4-0 [Biel, SUI]
MVP: Viktorija Golubic, SUI
...the 2022 Cup champions are back on the proverbial horse, as two of the veterans (Belinda Bencic & Viktorija Golubic) who led the Swiss to the BJK title two years ago grabbed the reigns again in a shutout of the Serbs (who were without their longtime Good Luck Charm -- aka Aleksandra Krunic -- in Biel). Bencic, in just her fifth match back since having a baby, downed Lola Radivojevic 2 & 2 in Match #1, then Golubic (a tour champ in Jiujiang earlier this month) dropped just five total games in consecutive wins over Mia Ristic and Radivojevic to clinch the win. Bencic and Jil Teichmann (another key player in Switzerland's title run) won a dead rubber doubles matches to complete the scoring.
Brilliant performance from Viktorija Golubic.?? She decides the tie in Switzerland’s favor.??????
...in probably the least unexpected result of the BJK week, the Kazakhs returned to the '25 Qualifiers by making (mostly) quick work of the South Koreans. Three different women posted singles wins for the nation, including Zarina Diyas (in Cup action for the first time since 2021 and getting her first win since '19 after losing four straight), Elena Rybakina (to finish 43-11 on the year, though with just a 4-3 mark since Wimbledon) and Yulia Putintseva (in for Rybakina to open Day 2), who clinched the victory and avoided the sort of drama -- like losing a match after holding MP, which she did in the spring vs. JPN -- that usually follows her around Cup play, and, you know, most of the tour schedule, too.
...the Colombians gave the crowds in Bogota just what they wanted -- a lot of tennis and, ultimately, a win over France. The Pastries put up a fight on foreign ground, with Diane Parry and Clara Burel both posting wins over Emiliana Arango to bookend a pair of singles victories from COL #1 Camila Osorio. Called into action once more, Osorio (already w/ a pair of tour title wins in Bogota in '21 and '24) helped calm nerves and allowed Arango to complete her redemption arc as the pair defeated Burel & Chloe Paquet 3 & 4 to claim victory in the tie. Cue the celebration! (I mean, that *is* the best part of Cup action, right?)
¡ATENCIÓN ??! Colombia vence a Francia y avanza ??
- Osorio / Arango ???? 6/3 6/4 Burel / Paquet ???? - Victoria de la pareja colombiana que le da el tercer punto a nuestro país. Con esto, COLOMBIA jugará el GRUPO MUNDIAL del próximo año.
...after Arantxa Rus saved three match points down 7-6/5-2 in Match #1 vs. Tamara Zidansek and went on to win to give the Dutch the early lead, Suzan Lamens (Osaka champ) added another layer to her career year by adding a pair of three-set victories over Veronika Erjavec (to give NED at 2-0 edge) and then Zidansek on Day 2 to clinch the 3-1 road victory for the Netherlands.
In Slovenië heeft het TeamNL Billie Jean King Cupteam zich met 3-1 langs het gastland geslagen. Suzan Lamens zorgde met een zege op Tamara Zidansek voor het beslissende punt in het play-offduel. Lees hier ?? meer. #KNLTBtoptennis#Beleefhetbeste
...after years of not quite "getting it right" (or not particularly caring to do so), the Chinese roster of talent is finally deep enough to piece together (maybe even accidentally) a unit that can compete at the Cup level. Things got off to a good start for CHN vs. Belgium in a tie that tilted way to the inexperienced side of the ledger, with 20-year old Wei Sijia notching her first career Cup win and Wang Xinyu (at 23 the veteran singles player on the squad) pushing the lead to 2-0 after Day 1. But the Waffles (captained by Iga coach Wim Fissette) threw some youth of their own into the mix on Day 2, with both Sofia Costoulas (19) and Hanne Vandewinkel (20) recording their maiden career singles wins for Team Belgium as a rare comeback from 0-2 down on the road (which hasn't happened in World play since 2015) was suddenly on the table. But in the deciding doubles, Guo Hanyu & Jiang Xinyu -- 1-3 in tour finals together the last two seasons -- defeated the young Belgians 7-6/6-3 to get the win.
The 2nd set also goes to ???? with 6-3. With that the tie ends with a score of 3-2. Team ???? did a great comeback on the 2nd day, it was so close but in the end China was strong. pic.twitter.com/ssLcSCIVZj
...with U.S. support in the stands in Texas (something which won't likely realistically continue on the ground in Ukraine itself for long into '25) in another "home" tie played on neutral ground, the Ukrainians heroically pulled out of a 2-1 Day 2 deficit to stun the Austrians in the deciding doubles. Back-to-back singles wins from Sinja Kraus over Katarina Zavatska and Lesia Tsurenko seemed to have the Austrians in a good place. Re-enter Zavatska, donning a blue-and-yellow cape. The 24-year sent the tie to the doubles with a straight sets win, her first in Cup play since '22, over Julia Grabher, then joined with Nadiia Kichenok to come from behind (again) to defeat Kraus & Tamira Paszek in a 5-7/6-2/6-4 decider on Sunday evening.
BRA def. ARG 3-2 (dd) [Sao Paulo, BRA]
MVP: Beatriz Haddad Maia, BRA
...Beatriz Haddad Maia ends her season by having a hand in all three points for Brazil, sending the team back to the BJK Qualifiers in '25. With BRA down 1-0 after Solana Sierra's three-set win over Laura Pigossi, Haddad Maia dug out of a 6-3/4-0 hold (saving two MP at 5-2) vs. Jazmin Ortenzi to knot the tie. Another Haddad Maia win from a set down over Sierra put the Brazilians up 2-1. After Ortenzi sent things to the deciding doubles with a victory over Pigossi, Haddad Maia was back in action again, joining with Carolina Alves to defeat Ortenzi & Julia Riera 3 & 2 to get the win.
VEM SENTIR O CLIMA DA VITÓRIA
O Time Brasil BRB venceu a Argentina, por 3 a 2, nos playoffs da BJKC e está nos Qualifiers da competição
Na partida decisiva, Bia Haddad e Carol Meligeni venceram Jazmin Ortenzi e Julia Riera, por 6/3 6/2 pic.twitter.com/OYesMSzWlf
...the Danes ultimately won this tie with a come-from-behind 2-6/6-4/6-4 win in the deciding doubles from Clara Tauson & Emilie Francati over Giuliana Olmos & Renata Zarazua, but it was the latter Mexican (already having a career season) who starred in Farum. Zarazua's back-to-back Match #2/#3 wins across two days over Johanne Christine Svendsen and Tauson (in a 7-5 3rd) had placed the fate of Team Mexico in the lap of Olmos. But the (mostly) doubles specialist fell in Match #4 to 20-year old Svendson to keep the tie alive. The rest was history.
Dansk tennishistorie i Farum. Emilie Francati, til daglig jurastuderende og end ikke rangeret på verdensranglisten, leverer en blændende indsats. “Jeg tror, min makker her har balls of steel,” småsnøfter Claura Tauson ?? ?? pic.twitter.com/IjFgGGDK4T
18yo Nikola Bartunkova accepts a 6-month suspension after testing positive first a banned substance in March.
The Czech can begin playing immediately due to "time served" while the investigation took place.
www.itia.tennis/news/sanctio...
Revealing answers from Medvedev, and also a great reminder about how insightful many players can be after losses, when they’re often much more clear-headed and honest (Medvedev is always super articulate, but this is still a different gear). https://t.co/G1TdvAs3cK
*WHEELCHAIR TENNIS MASTERS CHAMPIONS* [singles]
1994 Monique Kalkman, NED
1995 Monique Kalkman, NED
1996 Chantal Vandierendonck, NED
1997 Maaike Smit, NED
1998 Esther Vergeer, NED
1999 Esther Vergeer, NED
2000 Esther Vergeer, NED
2001 Esther Vergeer, NED
2002 Esther Vergeer, NED
2003 Esther Vergeer, NED
2004 Esther Vergeer, NED
2005 Esther Vergeer, NED
2006 Esther Vergeer, NED
2007 Esther Vergeer, NED
2008 Esther Vergeer, NED
2009 Esther Vergeer, NED
2010 Esther Vergeer, NED
2011 Esther Vergeer, NED
2012 Jiske Griffioen, NED
2013 Yui Kamiji, JPN
2014 Aniek van Koot, NED
2015 Jiske Griffioen, NED
2016 Jiske Griffioen, NED
2017 Diede de Groot, NED
2018 Diede de Groot, NED
2019 Diede de Groot, NED
2020 DNP
2021 Diede de Groot, NED
2022 Diede de Groot, NED
2023 Diede de Groot, NED
2024 Yui Kamiji, JPN [doubles]
2000 Daniela di Toro/Maaike Smit (AUS/NED)
2001 Maaike Smit/Esther Vergeer (NED/NED)
2002 Maaike Smit/Esther Vergeer (NED/NED)
2003 Maaike Smit/Esther Vergeer (NED/NED)
2004 Jiske Griffioen/Esther Vergeer (NED/NED)
2005 Jiske Griffioen/Esther Vergeer (NED/NED)
2006 Jiske Griffioen/Esther Vergeer (NED/NED)
2007 Jiske Griffioen/Esther Vergeer (NED/NED)
2008 Jiske Griffioen/Esther Vergeer (NED/NED)
2009 Korie Homan/Esther Vergeer (NED/NED)
2010 Aniek Van Koot/Sharon Walraven (NED/NED)
2011 Esther Vergeer/Sharon Walraven (NED/NED)
2012 Jiske Griffioen/Aniek Van Koot (NED/NED)
2013 Yui Kamiji/Jordanne Whiley (JPN/GBR)
2014 Yui Kamiji/Jordanne Whiley (JPN/GBR)
2015 Jiske Griffioen/Aniek Van Koot (NED/NED)
2016 Diede de Groot/Lucy Shuker (NED/GBR)
2017 Marjolein Buis/Diede de Groot (NED/NED)
2018 Marjolein Buis/Aniek Van Koot (NED/NED)
2019 Diede de Groot/Aniek Van Koot (NED/NED)
2020 DNP
2021 Diede de Groot/Aniek Van Koot (NED/NED)
2022 Diede de Groot/Aniek Van Koot (NED/NED)
2023 Yui Kamiji/Kgothatso Montjane (JPN/RSA)
2024 Jiske Griffioen/Aniek Van Koot (NED/NED)
*JUNIOR FED CUP/BJK CUP CHAMPIONS [16s] - since 2000*
2000 Czech Republic
2001 Czech Republic
2002 Belarus
2003 Netherlands
2004 Argentina
2005 Poland
2006 Belarus
2007 Australia
2008 United States
2009 Russia
2010 Russia
2011 Australia
2012 United States
2013 Russia
2014 United States
2015 Czech Republic
2016 Poland
2017 United States
2018 United States
2019 United States
2020 DNP
2021 Czech Republic
2022 United States
2023 United States
2024 United States
*RECENT CZECH CUP HISTORY* [2009-2018]
20 - consecutive indoor tie victories (2010-18)
18 - consecutive tie victories on hard court (2010-18)
11 - consecutive home tie victories (2010-18)
10 - consecutive SF (2009-18)
6 - titles in 8 years (2011-18)
5 - title in 6 years (2011-16) [2011-current]
12-5 - deciding doubles matches
22-5 - hardcourt ties
6-2 - claycourt ties
25-5 - indoor ties
3-2 - outdoor ties
13-2 - home site ties (w/ '21 BJK Finals event)
10-2 - road site ties
5-3 - neutral site (w/ '23 UKR Q in Antalya)
28-7 - overall tie record
If only Jeffry Epstein were still alive, he could be in Trump's Cabinet.
saw someone say that The Hobbit is too difficult a book for teenagers, and I really think part of the problem is adults with such low expectations that they think kids can’t handle a book famously written for children.
Hear ye, hear ye! The Backspin recapping season is upon us, with the annual grab bag list of numbers and year-end standing rises and falls at the conclusion of another oddly compelling WTA campaign...
[as of end-of-season singles ranks the week-of-November 11, 2024]
=FINAL 2024 SINGLES TOP 10=
1. Aryna Sabalenka, BLR
2. Iga Swiatek, POL
3. Coco Gauff, USA
4. Jasmine Paolini, ITA
5. Zheng Qinwen, CHN
6. Elena Rybakina, KAZ
7. Jessie Pegula, USA
8. Emma Navarro, USA
9. Dasha Kasatkina, RUS
10. Barbora Krejcikova, CZE
=TOP 50 NATIONS=
2015: 20
2016: 25
2017: 21
2018: 25
2019: 27
2020: 25
2021: 23
2022: 22
2023: 21
2024: 23 [Top 50 players without career WTA singles titles]
#14 Anna Kalinskaya, RUS (0-2 in career WTA finals)
#37 Wang Xinyu, CHN (no career WTA finals)
#40 Lulu Sun, NZL (0-1 in career WTA finals)
#44 Elina Avanesyan, ARM (0-1 in career WTA finals)
#49 Viktoriya Tomova, BUL (no career WTA finals)
#50 Diane Parry, FRA (no career WTA finals) [Top 32 players without slam SF; w/ slam best]
#12 Paula Badosa, ESP (QF)
#13 Diana Shnaider, RUS (4th)
#14 Anna Kalinskaya, RUS (QF)
#18 Marta Kostyuk, UKR (QF)
#24 Katie Boulter, GBR (3rd)
#25 Magdalena Frech, POL (4th)
#26 Linda Noskova, CZE (QF)
#27 Liudmila Samsonova, RUS (4th)
#28 Ekaterina Alexandrova, RUS (4th)
#29 Yulia Putintseva, KAZ (QF)
=HIGHEST-RANKED PLAYER WITHOUT A CAREER WTA SINGLES TITLE=
2010 Dominika Cibulkova, SVK - won maiden title in 2011
2011 Peng Shuai, CHN - 2016
2012 Varvara Lepchenko, USA
2013 Sloane Stephens, USA - 2015
2014 Peng Shuai, CHN - 2016
2015 Kristina Mladenovic, FRA - 2017
2016 Dasha Gavrilova, AUS - 2017
2017 Wang Qiang, CHN - 2018
2018 Aliaksandra Sasnovich, BLR
2019 Danielle Collins, USA - 2021
2020 Ons Jabeur, TUN - 2021
2021 Shelby Rogers, USA
2022 Zheng Qinwen, CHN - 2023
2023 Anhelina Kalinina, UKR
2024 Anna Kalinskaya, RUS
=PLAYERS RISING INTO SEASON-ENDING TOP 100=
2024: 29 (since final '23 season rankings - November 2023)
2023: 32
2022: 27
2021: 25
2020: 13
2019: 25
2018: 26
2017: 27
2016: 27
2015: 29 [2024 Top 100 Risers; w/ '23 rank]
#33 Dayana Yastremska, UKR (#106)
#36 Amanda Anisimova, USA (#359)
#40 Lulu Sun, NZL (#219)
#43 Rebecca Sramkova, SVK (#129)
#47 Yuan Yue, CHN (#108)
#50 Diane Parry, FRA (#105)
#53 Olga Danilovic, SRB (#116)
#55 Jessica Bouzas Maneiro, ESP (#152)
#56 Moyuka Uchijima, JPN (#181)
#58 Emma Raducanu, GBR (285)
#59 Naomi Osaka, JPN (--)
#60 Renata Zarazua, MEX (#165)
#62 Katie Volynets, USA (#109)
#67 Erika Andreeva, RUS (#142)
#68 McCartney Kessler, USA (#231)
#72 Caroline Wozniacki, DEN (#236)
#85 Ajla Tomljanovic, AUS (#549)
#87 Suzan Lamens, NED (#218)
#88 Harriet Dart, GBR (#138)
#89 Sonay Kartal, GBR (#235)
#90 Olivia Gadecki, AUS (#132)
#91 Zeynep Sonmez, TUR (#159)
#92 Jule Niemeier, GER (#162)
#93 Hailey Baptiste, USA (#131)
#94 Anna Bondar, HUN (#114)
#95 Maria Lourdes Carle, ARG (#153)
#97 Yuliia Starodubtseva, UKR (#160)
#98 Nuria Parrizas Diaz, ESP (#123)
#99 Ann Li, USA (#174) [smallest 2023-to-2024 rankings changes in Top 100]
0...Coco Gauff (#3 to #3)
0...Barbora Krejcikova (#10 to #10)
+1...Aryna Sabalenka (#2 to #1)
-1...Iga Swiatek (#1 to #2)
-1...Katerina Siniakova (#45 to #46)
+2...Victoria Azarenka (#22 to #20)
+2...Laura Siegemund (#86 to #84)
-2...Elena Rybakina (#4 to #6)
-2...Jessie Pegula (#5 to #7)
-2...Alona Ostapenko (#13 to #15)
-2...Elisabetta Cocciaretto (#52 to #54)
-2...Nadia Podoroska (#78 to #80)
===============================================
*RECENT #11 FINISHES*
2015: Karolina Pliskova, CZE
2016: Petra Kvitova, CZE
2017: Kristina Mladenovic, FRA
2018: Aryna Sabalenka, BLR
2019: Aryna Sabalenka, BLR
2020: Serena Williams, USA
2021: Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, RUS
2022: Madison Keys, USA
2023: Beatriz Haddad Maia, BRA
2024: Danielle Collins, USA *RECENT #21 FINISHES*
2015: Jelena Jankovic, SRB
2016: Samantha Stosur, AUS
2017: Angelique Kerber, GER
2018: Anett Kontaveit, EST
2019: Karolina Muchova, CZE
2020: Marketa Vondrousova, CZE
2021: Elise Mertens, BEL
2022: Barbora Krejcikova, CZE
2023: Ekaterina Alexandrova, RUS
2024: Madison Keys, USA *RECENT #51 FINISHES*
2015: Karin Knapp, ITA
2016: Johanna Larsson, SWE
2017: Carina Witthoeft, GER
2018: Victoria Azarenka, BLR
2019: Ajla Tomljanovic, AUS
2020: Marie Bouzkova, CZE
2021: Alison Riske, USA
2022: Yulia Putintseva, KAZ
2023: Arantxa Rus, NED
2024: Caroline Garcia, FRA *RECENT #101 FINISHES*
2010: Rebecca Marino, CAN
2011: Stephanie Foretz-Gacon, FRA
2012: Stephanie Foretz-Gacon, FRA
2013: Mariana Duque Marino, COL
2014: Aleksandra Krunic, SRB
2015: Kiki Bertens, NED
2016: Donna Vekic, CRO
2017: Kurumi Nara, JPN
2018: Heather Watson, GBR
2019: Kaia Kanepi, EST
2020: Kaia Kanepi, EST
2021: Oceane Dodin, FRA
2022: Aleksandra Krunic, SRB
2023: Sara Errani, ITA
2024: Tatjana Maria, GER
===============================================
=TEENS IN THE TOP 100=
2015: 5
2016: 6
2017: 4
2018: 5
2019: 6
2020: 6
2021: 6
2022: 4
2023: 6
2024: 2
=YOUNGEST IN...=
Top 10: #3 Coco Gauff, USA (20)
Top 20: #16 Mirra Andreeva, RUS (17, 5 mo.)
Top 50: M.Andreeva
Top 100: M.Andreeva
Top 200: #177 Alina Korneeva, RUS (17, 3 mo.)
Top 300: #206 Iva Jovic, USA (16, 9 mo.)
Top 400: #342 Laura Samson, CZE (16, 6 mo.)
Top 500: #427 Emerson Jones, AUS (16, 3 mo.)
Top 600: #567 Julieta Pareja, USA (15, 7 mo.)
Top 700: #613 Hannah Klugman, GBR (15, 7 mo. - born same day as Pareja)
Top 800: #775 Mariella Thamm, GER (15, 2 mo.)
Top 900: Thamm
Top 1000: Thamm
*YOUNGEST PLAYER - end of '24 season* [Top 100]
17...Mirra Andreeva, RUS (born April, 29, 2007)
19...Linda Noskova, CZE (born November 17, 2004)
20...Erika Andreeva, RUS (born June 24, 2004)
20...Ashlyn Krueger, USA (born May 7, 2004)
20...Diana Shnaider, RUS (born April 2, 2004)
20...Coco Gauff, USA (born March 13, 2004) [#101-200]
17...Alina Korneeva, RUS (born June 23, 2007)
17...Brenda Fruhvirtova, CZE (born April 2, 2007)
18...Sara Saito, JPN (born October 3, 2006)
18...Maya Joint, AUS (born April 16, 2006)
18...Sara Bejlek, CZE (born January 31, 2006)
19...Marina Stakusic, CAN (born November 27, 2004)
19...Taylah Preston, AUS (born October 27, 2005)
19...Sayaka Ishii, JPN (born August 31, 2005)
19...Elena Pridankina, RUS (born August 30, 2005)
19...Victoria Jimenez Kasintseva, AND (born August 9, 2005)
19...Celine Naef, SUI (born June 25, 2005)
19...Alexandra Eala, PHI (born May 23, 2005)
19...Ella Seidel, GER (born February 14, 2005)
19...Lola Radivojevic, SRB (born January 2, 2005)
=OLDEST IN...=
Top 10: #7 Jessie Pegula, USA (30)
Top 20: #20 Victoria Azarenka, BLR (35)
Top 50: #84 Laura Siegemund, GER (36)
Top 100: Siegemund
Top 200: #143 Varvara Lepchenko, USA (38, 4 mo.)
Top 300: Lepchenko
Top 400: Lepchenko
Top 500: Lepchenko
Top 600: Lepchenko
Top 700: #618 Pemra Ozgen TUR (38, 5 mo.)
Top 800: Ozgen
Top 900: Ozgen
Top 1000: #970 Venus Williams, USA (44)
*OLDEST PLAYER - end of '24 season* [Top 100]
36...Laura Siegemund, GER (born March 4, 1988)
35...Victoria Azarenka, BLR (born July 31, 1989)
34...Sorana Cirstea, ROU (born April 7, 1990
34...Caroline Wozniacki, DEN (born July 11, 1990)
34...Irina-Camelia Begu, ROU (born August 26, 1990)
33...Arantxa Rus, NED (born December 13, 1990)
33...Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, RUS (born July 3, 1991)
33...Nuria Parrizas Diaz, ESP (born July 15, 1991) [#101-200]
38...Varvara Lepchenko, USA (born May 21, 1986)
37...Sara Errani, ITA (born April 29, 1987)
37...Tatjana Maria, GER (born August 8, 1987)
35...Lesia Tsurenko, UKR (born May 30, 1989)
34...Arina Rodionova, AUS (born December 15, 1989)
34...Mona Barthel, GER (born July 11, 1990)
33...Rebecca Marino, CAN (born December 16, 1990)
33...Petra Martic, CRO (born January 19, 1991)
===============================================
Sometimes up is down, and down is up. As always, the Tennis Gods like to mess with unsuspecting WTA players...
Sara Errani, ITA (#101 to #105): a year ago, Errani finished up at #101, just on the outside of her first Top 100 singles campaign since 2016. While the Italian had a Top 10 season in doubles in '24, she had some of her best results in singles this decade, as well. Errani reached her first tour-level SF (Bogota) since 2017, recorded her first MD wins in a 1000 event (both Madrid and Rome) in seven years, and played in the MD of all four majors for the first time since 2016. But her season-ending ranking slipped to #105.
And sometimes a player gets the chance to mess with the Tennis Gods...
Jessie Pegula, USA (#5 to #7): after coming up short in her first six slam QF, Pegula played all the way into her first major final at the U.S. Open. After reaching just one 1000 final in '23, she reached two (1-1) this season. The big-event jumps don't reflect in her ranking, though, as it fell two spots. Jess surely doesn't care.Karolina Pliskova, CZE (#37 to #41): the Czech (in Cluj) won her first tour title in four years, then followed up with a 1000 SF in Doha (her best since '22). Her appearances in two WTA finals were most since 2021, as well. Still, Pliskova's season-ending ranking fell four spots. The TGs *think* they won.Ekaterina Alexandrova, RUS (#21 to #28): the Hordette reached her career high ranking (#15) in April, and matched her best 1000 run with a SF in Miami. Alexandrova played in her biggest career final in three years in Linz (500), and notched her first career #1 victory (Iga in Miami). All in all, she had a nice season... so it's no matter that the Russian actually slipped down seven spots.Beatriz Haddad Maia, BRA (#11 to #17): Haddad Maia had an historic season, becoming the first Brazlian to reach the AO 3rd Round since 1965 and the first to play in the U.S. Open QF since 1968. After just one singles final appearance in 2023, she had two this year and won her first 500 crown in Seoul. But after being on the cusp of the Top 10 at the end of last season (she spent two weeks there in the '24 4Q), she ended up at #17. Brazil will overlook such details.Donna Vekic, CRO (#23 to #19): Vekic's season-ending ranking rose four spots over the course of the last twelve months, but one might have expected a *bigger* jump after a career year that included the Croatian's first slam SF (Wimbledon), an Olympic Silver medal, ten match wins in majors (a career high), and a pair of victories over the world #2 (her best wins since 2019). Still, Donna will always have '24.
===============================================
*REGIONAL RANKINGS*
==EASTERN EUROPE== [non-RUS/Baltics]
#1 Aryna Sabalenka, BLR
#18 Marta Kostyuk, UKR
#20 Victoria Azarenka, BLR
#23 Elina Svitolina, UKR
#33 Dayana Yastremska, UKR
#57 Anhelina Kalinina, UKR
#70 Sorana Cirstea, ROU
#73 Jaqueline Cristian, ROU
#83 Irina-Camelia Begu, ROU
#97 Yuliia Starodubtseva, UKR
#113 Anca Todoni, ROU
#116 Ana Bogdan, ROU [RUSSIA]
#9 Dasha Kasatkina
#13 Diana Shnaider
#14 Anna Kalinskaya
#16 Mirra Andreeva
#27 Liudmila Samsonova
#28 Ekaterina Alexandrova
#30 Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova
#35 Anastasia Potapova
#64 Kamilla Rakhimova
#67 Erika Andreeva [BALTIC REGION]
#15 Alona Ostapenko, LAT
#121 Darja Semenistaja, LAT
#247 Justina Mikulskyte, LTU
#372 Anastasija Sevastova, LAT
#408 Diana Marcinkevica, LAT
#453 Elena Malygina, EST
==WESTERN & CENTRAL EUROPE== [non-RUS/Caucasus/Mediterranean/Scandinavia]
#2 Iga Swiatek, POL
#4 Jasmine Paolini, ITA
#10 Barbora Krejcikova, CZE
#12 Paula Badosa, ESP
#19 Donna Vekic, CRO
#22 Karolina Muchova, CZE
#24 Katie Boulter, GBR
#26 Linda Noskova, CZE
#34 Elise Mertens, BEL
#38 Magda Linette, POL [SCANDINAVIA]
#52 Clara Tauson, DEN
#72 Caroline Wozniacki, DEN
#315 Kajsa Rinaldo Persson, SWE
#353 Anastasia Kulikova, FIN
#412 Jacqueline Cabaj Awad, SWE
#449 Malene Helgo, NOR [AFRICA, MIDDLE EAST, CAUCASUS & MEDITERRANEAN]
#32 Maria Sakkari, GRE
#42 Ons Jabeur, TUN
#44 Elina Avanesyan, ARM
#91 Zeynep Sonmez, TUR
#100 Mayar Sherif, EGY
#195 Mariam Bolkvadze, GEO
#210 Raluca Serban, CYP
#214 Berfu Cengiz, TUR
#224 Ipek Oz, TUR
#237 Lina Glushko, ISR
#281 Despina Papamichail, GRE
#282 Ayla Aksu, TUR
==ASIA/PACIFIC==
#5 Zheng Qinwen, CHN
#6 Elena Rybakina, KAZ
#29 Yulia Putintseva, KAZ
#37 Wang Xinyu, CHN
#40 Lulu Sun, NZL
#47 Yuan Yue, CHN
#56 Moyuka Uchijima, JPN
#59 Naomi Osaka, JPN
#61 Wang Yafan, CHN
#85 Ajla Tomljanovic, AUS
#90 Olivia Gadecki, AUS
#102 Wang Xiyu, CHN
#115 Kimberly Birrell, AUS
#119 Maya Joint, AUS
==SOUTH AMERICA==
#17 Beatriz Haddad Maia, BRA
#63 Camila Osorio, COL
#80 Nadia Podoroska, ARG
#95 Maria Lourdes Carle, ARG
#114 Julia Riera, ARG
#129 Laura Pigossi, BRA
#154 Solana Sierra, ARG
#180 Emiliana Arango, COL
#274 Jazmín Ortenzi, ARG
#312 Carolina Alves, BRA
==NORTH AMERICA== [UNITED STATES]
#3 Coco Gauff
#7 Jessie Pegula
#8 Emma Navarro
#11 Danielle Collins
#21 Madison Keys
#36 Amanda Anisimova
#48 Peyton Stearns
#62 Katie Volynets
#65 Ashlyn Krueger
#68 McCartney Kessler
#69 Taylor Townsend
#75 Bernarda Pera, USA [CANADA/MEXICO]
#31 Leylah Fernandez, CAN
#60 Renata Zarazua, MEX
#103 Rebecca Marino, CAN
#127 Marina Stakusic, CAN
#132 Bianca Andreescu, CAN
#252 Carson Branstine, CAN
#266 Carol Zhao, CAN
#273 Kayla Cross, CAN
#280 Ana Sofia Sanchez, MEX
#288 Victoria Rodriguez, MEX
*BIGGEST RISES IN THE RANKINGS*
=end of '23 to end of '24 season= [in 2024 Top 25]
+63...Anna Kalinskaya (#77 to #14)
+54...Paula Badosa (#66 to #12)
+47...Diana Shnaider (#60 to #13)
+44...Danielle Collins (#55 to #11)
+38...Magdalena Frech (#63 to #25)
+34...Katie Boulter (#58 to #24)
+30...Emma Navarro (#38 to #8)
+30...Mirra Andreeva (#46 to #16)
+24...Jasmine Paolini (#30 to #4) [2024 Top 26-50]
+323...Amanda Anisimova (#359 to #36)
+179...Lulu Sun (#219 to #40)
+86...Rebecca Sramkova (#129 to #43)
+73...Dayana Yastremska (#106 to #33)
+61...Yuan Yue (#108 to #47)
+55...Diane Parry (#105 to #50)
+47...Viktoriya Tomova (#96 to #49)
+40...Yulia Putintseva (#69 to #29)
+31...Elina Avanesyan (#75 to #44)
+29...Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (#59 to #30) [2024 Top 51-100]
----...Naomi Osaka (NR to #59)
+464...Ajla Tomljanovic (#549 to #85)
+227...Emma Raducanu (#285 to #58)
+164...Caroline Wozniacki (#236 to #72)
+163...McCartney Kessler (#231 to #68)
+146...Sonay Kartal (#235 to #89)
+131...Suzan Lamens (#218 to #87)
+125...Moyuka Uchijima (#181 to #56)
+105...Renata Zarazua (#165 to #60)
+97...Jessica Bouzas Maneiro (#152 to #55)
+75...Erika Andreeva (#142 to #67)
+75...Ann Li (#164 to #99)
*BIGGEST FALLS IN THE RANKINGS*
=end of '23 to end of '24 season= [2023 Top 25]
DNP...Petra Kvitova (#14 to NR)
-58...Veronika Kudermetova (#19 to #77)
-36...Ons Jabeur (#6 to #42)
-32...Marketa Vondrousova (#7 to #39)
-31...Caroline Garcia (#20 to #51)
-23...Maria Sakkari (#9 to #32)
-14...Karolina Muchova (#8 to #22)
-14...Magda Linette (#24 to #38) [2023 Top 26-50]
-87...Lesia Tsurenko (#31 to #118)
-86...Zhu Lin (#36 to #122)
-83...Martina Trevisan (#43 to #126)
-83...Petra Martic (#40 to #123)
-65...Alycia Parks (#47 to #112)
-56...Sara Sorribes Tormo (#50 to #106)
-53...Sofia Kenin (#33 to #86)
-51...Mayar Sherif (#49 to #10))
-44...Sorana Cirstea (#26 to #70) [2023 Top 51-100]
retired...#56 Camila Giorgi (NR)
-682...Yanina Wickmayer (#74 to #756)
-432...Julia Grabher (#91 to #523)
-346...Kateryna Baindl (#99 to #445)
-239...Lauren Davis (#70 to #309)
-214...Rebeka Masarova (#65 to #149(
-202...Jodie Burrage (#93 to #295)
-173...Claire Liu (#94 to #267)
-158...Kayla Day (#87 to #245)
-120...Emina Bektas (#82 to #202)
-112...Linda Fruhvirtova (#89 to #201)
-112...Tamara Korpatsch (#73 to #185)
===============================================
[as of end-of-season doubles ranks the week-of-November 11, 2024]
...clearly, Gauff is an A+ student.
With her sterling 4Q finish, for the second time in two seasons Gauff has initiated a mid-season coaching change and proved to be such a quick and willing learner that she immediately put together career-best bursts of spectacular results with the new voice in her ear.
In Riyadh, Gauff posted wins over both the #1 (Sabalenka, in the SF) and #2 (Swiatek, in rr play for a rare take down of the Pole in the Iga-dominated series) players in the world, then rallied in the final vs. Zheng Qinwen from a set down, a break down in the 2nd, and a break down (twice) in the 3rd to pull away in dominating fashion in a TB to decide the title. She led Zheng 6-0 in the breaker, and put away the second biggest win of her career (after the U.S. Open last year) on MP #5 (2 before the TB, 3 during it).
After going 24-4 (18-1 during the hard court summer) following her switch to coaches Brad Gilbert and Pera Riba (the latter is now w/ Zheng) in '23, Gauff went 13-2 in the 4Q this time around immediately after ditching Gilbert for Matt Daly, winning the Beijing 1000 and now her first WTAF title.
With back-to-back seasons with post-coaching change surges in her back pocket, in 2025 we'll see if Gauff's grade point average can continue to climb after the initial "spark" has subsided. It didn't last time.
RISERS:Zheng Qinwen/CHN and Barbora Krejcikova/CZE
...Zheng carried her summer/fall/Asian swing surge into Riyadh, reaching the final in the WTAF's desert debut.
After opening with yet another loss to Aryna Sabalenka (the fourth this year), Zheng settled into round robin play with victories over Elena Rybakina and Jasmine Paolini to advance to the semifinals. A win over Barbora Krejcikova assured the 22-year old of another new ranking high (#5), and she seemed well positioned in the final to continue to chip away from the outside in -- slam final, Olympic Gold, WTAF crown? -- toward the most desired titles the sport has to offer.
Zheng took the opening set from Coco Gauff, and held break leads in the 2nd (3-1) and 3rd sets (she served for the match at 5-4), but saw the crown slip through her fingers as Gauff powered her way through the finish with a dominating 7-2 TB win.
Zheng still joins Li Na (2013) as one of just two Chinese women to reach the final at the season-ending championships event, and ends her season on a 31-6 tear (w/ Gold in Paris, titles at Palermo/Tokyo, finals in Wuhan/Riyadh, a Beijing semi and U.S. Open QF) since a 1st Round exit at Wimbledon vs. Lulu Sun.
Krejickova seemed to have little reason to show up in Riyadh. She'd won just 19 matches over the course of the season due to injury (Gauff ended up winning 19 *since* the Czech won Wimbledon, while Zheng clocked 31 victories after SW19), and didn't appear in recent weeks to be particularly prepared to pull a big result out of her tennis bag.
Still, her one brilliant fortnight at Wimbledon had almost come from nowhere, as well, and produced the most cherished title run of Krejcikova's life.
The Czech's inclusion in the field only came about because of a new rule that opened the door to a slam champion who hadn't finish high enough in the points race to make the field (but at least was in the Top 20). After playing with a lingering back injury over the season's final stretch, the Wimbledon champ turned a fortunate turn of events into an opportunity seized.
She burst into her opening round robin match, leading Iga Swiatek 6-4/3-0 before being unable to finish off the Pole. The loss dropped Krejcikova to 0-4 in her WTAF singles career, but she was hardly finished. She finally got on the board with a win over Jessie Pegula (who pulled out of the event with a knee injury afterward) and then defeated Coco Gauff in straights to not only secure a berth in the semifinals (knocking out Iga) but *win* the group (over Gauff, thanks to her taking that 1st set vs. Swiatek).
After qualifying for the WTA Finals by virtue of winning Wimbledon, Barbora Krejcikova ends up winning her group ahead of Iga Swiatek, Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula with a remarkable run in Riyadh. pic.twitter.com/y5zIFHaK0r
Playing without a day of rest, the Czech started slowly vs. Zheng Qinwen in the semis, falling behind 6-3/3-0 without seeing a BP chance. She ultimately pushed Zheng in the 2nd, getting things to 5-5 before the Chinese star broke free for the win.
With her two wins and semifinal finish, Krejcikova managed to lift her season-ending ranking from #13 to #10, garnering her second straight Top 10 finish and third in the last four years.
Of course, due to injury and her lack of a regular partnership with Katerina Siniakova, the Czech will also finish with her lowest doubles ranking (#29) since 2017. She finished in the doubles Top 20 every year since 2018, including four times in the Top 3 (#1 in '18).
SURPRISES:Tina Nadine Smith/AUS and Kari Miller/USA
...the WTA's 125 schedule continues through December, and this week saw some eyebrow-raising results coming from a pair of players whose names (likely) haven't been mentioned too much (if at all) this season.
In Cali (COL), 22-year old Aussie (she also holds Swiss citizenship, and resides there) Smith put on her first big run above the ITF level. The winner of a lone ITF title in 2019, and a three-time challenger finalist in '24 (0-3), #322 Smith reached the semifinals with wins over Aliona Bolsova, Robin Montgomery and Leyre Romero Gormaz before falling to Romanian Irina-Camelia Begu.
QF Secured for Smith ??
22 year old ???? Tina Smith (Q) takes down 3rd seed ???? Robin Montgomery 6-3, 6-3 - WTA 125 Cali???? R16.
It will be her 11th QF in 2024. 52-35 win loss on tour so far this year - her best season - 402-290 live rankings spike. #TheFirstServepic.twitter.com/gX7JElT2y0
Smith will crack the Top 300 and climb inside the Top 280 for the official season-ending rankings release this week.
Meanwhile, in Midland, Michigan, 22-year old Miller found success on familiar ground.
A college star at the University of Michigan, the world #570 -- the winner of her first two pro singles titles in consecutive events in August/September -- made her WTA 125 MD debut, reaching the QF after getting wins over Jamie Loeb (a former NCAA singles champion) and Polina Kudermetova, the latter a tour-level semifinalist last week. Miller saved four MP vs. Kudermetova, then lost a round later to Lesia Tsurenko.
Miller will crack the Top 500 in the new rankings.
===============================================
VETERANS:Irina-Camelia Begu/ROU and Rebecca Marino/CAN
...after a late start to her '24 season after sitting out six months following last year's U.S. Open, Begu is finally hitting her stride.
The 34-year old Romanian reached her third 125 final of the season in Cali, Colombia, picking up her second title (the other came in September) after a week that included wins over Emiliana Arango, Anca Todoni and Veronika Erjavec in a 3 & 3 final.
Begu will climb nineteen spots to #83 and finish ranked in the season-ending Top 100 for the eleventh straight season (and 13th in 14).
This match was closer than the score shows. Erjavec put up a great fight, but Irina played well and won the most important points to stay in the lead. Irina Begu defeated Veronika Erjavec 6-3, 6-3 to win the WTA125 Cali title, her 4th 125 title of her career. pic.twitter.com/RGlZ8fPFP1
Marino, 33, continues to have the most productive season of her career. In the Midland 125, the Canadian ran her season win total to a career-best 58 while claiming her fourth title of the season, the biggest she's ever won. Her other three '24 wins, a pair of $100K challengers and a $75K, had already previously stacked up as her three biggest title runs. Her lone tour-level final appearance came some thirteen and a half years ago in 2011.
Marino posted victories over Robin Anderson, Louisa Chirico (from 5-2 down in the 3rd, saving a MP), Alina Korneeva (at 17, almost half her age), Lesia Tsurenko (who reached her first QF of '24... and, yes, she did have multiple MTO on the day in the SF) and Alycia Parks in a 6-2/6-1 final.
Marino, 37-13 dating back to her Nottingham qualifying run and MD victory this summer, will finish at an official season-ending #103.
Marino Makes Her Move
After starting the year back at #185, Rebecca Marino pulls herself back up to #104 after taking the title in Midland.
The Canadian veteran, who stepped away from the sport for 5 years to prioritize her mental health, defeats Alycia Parks, 6-2, 6-1. pic.twitter.com/FgqyF7Jq27
...lately, Rybakina's longstanding health issues have come to define her career nearly as much as her powerful serve and groundstrokes. She started off her 2024 WTA campaign looking like a potential Player of the Year candidate, but she ended it this past week in Riyadh by playing in her first tournament since the U.S. Open, having recored just one match win since July 10.
Despite having only been practicing for a short time prior to the WTA Finals, the Kazakh made a good showing. She suffered a pair of round robin losses to Jasmine Paolini and Zheng Qinwen, but played a pair of tight sets vs. the Italian and took the Olympic singles Gold medalist to three sets. Finally, with two matches under her belt, Rybakina notched a win in her return by becoming the first player to defeat Aryna Sabalenka in her second stint in the women's #1 ranking. It's the sixth #1 win of Rybakina's career (all in 2023-24).
Rybakina's new teaming with coach Goran Ivanisevic for 2025 should strike fear in the hearts of opponents, considering Rybakina's serve is already likely second-best to none on tour, yet fellow Wimbledon singles champ Ivanisevic's biggest and best stroke was his own serve, so he'll likely be able to help her tweak things to make it (still) just a tiny bit *better*.
It could be the difference between being a solid #3-5 player on tour and finally contending for the top spot vs. Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek, against whom Rybakina is a combined 8-4 the last two seasons. If she can just figure out her health issues and maintain a consistent presence on the court, that is. [Note: Rybakina has played #3 Gauff just once... ever. She lost in their lone meeting in 2022.]
...in her first action since the U.S. Open, and first event with new coach Wim Fissette, Swiatek's slow start ultimately came back to haunt her by the end of the week as the WTAF defending champ failed to advance out of round robin play despite a 2-1 record.
Swiatek immediately fell behind Barbora Krejcikova 6-4/3-0 in her opening round robin match. Though she ultimately rallied to win in three sets (racing to a 5-0 lead in the 3rd), a straight sets loss to Coco Gauff (now 2-11 in the series) in match #2 would go a long way toward sealing her fate (it also officially wrapped up Aryna Sabalenka's season-ending #1 ranking). Even with a dominant 6-1/6-0 win over Dasha Kasatkina (in for an injured Jessie Pegula) in her final rr outing, Swiatek's fate rested in the hands of her first two opponents as Gauff needed to defeat Krejcikova in the final rr match of the week in order for Iga to join Gauff in the semis.
Iga Swiatek's reaction when she found out that her result had no bearing on her chances to qualify for the semi-finals in Riyadh ????#WTAFinalspic.twitter.com/cWWEBFSVVs
Krejcikova won in straight sets, winning the group because of the set she took off Swiatek in the opening match, and Gauff settled into the second advancing spot while Swiatek's Riyadh adventure ended right then and there.
===============================================
ITF PLAYERS:Susan Bandecchi/SUI and Celine Naef/SUI
...the top of the ITF leaderboard this week has a distinctly Swiss feel, as two picked up $75K crowns.
In Ismaning (GER), 26-year old Bandecchi claimed her third '24 title and the biggest of her career, winning a 7-5 3rd set over Ukraine's Daria Snigur in the final.
In Pretange (LUX), 19-year old Naef improved to 7-2 in career challenger finals, picking up her second $75K crown of the season with wins over Dasha Saville and, in the final, Oceane Dodin in a 6-2/6-4 contest.
...with three of the season's four slam winnnig duos -- one one-time pair wasn't in the field, while two others went a combined 1-5 (also, the Olympic Gold medalists failed to make it out of round robin play) -- it was #2-seeds Dabrowski & Routliffe who were the most consistent team in Riyadh as they went undefeated (5-0) and picked up just their second title of the year (the other was at 250 Nottingham).
The duo went 3-0 in rr play, including saving a MP in their second match vs. Errani/Paolini (which proved key to keeping the Italians out of the SF). They got some SF measure of revenge vs. the pair (Melichar-Martinez/Perez) who knocked them out of last year's WTAF semis, reaching the final where Wimbledon champs Katerina Siniakova & Taylor Townsend awaited them.
Siniakova/Townsend had often been brilliant during the week, but also had to save a MP in their first rr match (three of the four WD semifinalists got rr wins after facing MP, in fact) and then had a hard time regaining their momentum after dominating the early going in their SF vs. Chan HC./V.Kudermetova (leading 6-0/4-2, then being forced to a 2nd set TB and feeling relieved to have escaped with the win after converting their 6th MP).
In the final, the CZE/USA team failed to take advantage of second serve returns (winning just 39%), while Dabrowski/Routliffe proved to be at their best on the biggest points en route to a 7-5/6-3 victory.
It's their second-biggest title behind their U.S. Open crown last year (they were RU to Siniakova/Townsend at SW19 this summer), and the win improves the duo's record in finals to 4-5 (2-4 in '24). Routliffe added the Cincinnati 1000 title this summer alongside Asia Muhammad.
It's another big title for Dabrowski's resume, as she's also added two MX slams titles, an Olympic MX Bronze and four 1000 wins in recent years.
Though the lighter of the two when it comes to big career titles, it was Routliffe who spent eight weeks at WD #1 earlier this year, the first New Zealand woman to do so. Dabrowski's career high is #3, where she'll finish 2024 behind #2 Routliffe.
Siniakova, with two major titles (RG/WI) as well as Olympic MX Gold on her title list this season, finishes the year as the season-ending #1 for the fourth time *and* moves into sole possession of 5th place on the career list of weeks at #1 (125 on Monday).
===============================================
WHEELCHAIR:Angelica Bernal/COL
...in the week before the Wheelchair Masters pits the sport's top players against one another in a WTAF-style round robin affair, Bernal went about picking up a Series 2 title before making her singles debut next week in the Netherlands-hosted event.
The 29-year old Colombian grabbed her fourth title of the season in Fleury les Aubrais (FRA), putting up wins over Lizzy de Greef, top seed Jiske Griffioen and Zhu Zhenzhen in a 6-0/7-6 final.
Bernal and Zhu combined to win the doubles.
La #ImPARAble Angélica Bernal debutará en el Single Master de Tenis en silla de ruedas ??
Actualmente en el puesto 7 del mundo, la tenista colombiana competirá con las 8 mejores del ranking ??
— Comité Paralímpico Colombiano (@COLParalimpico) November 7, 2024
===============================================
1. WTAF Final - Coco Gauff def. Zheng Qinwen
...3-6/6-4/7-6(2). For the first time ever, the WTA Finals champion was declared at the conclusion of a deciding tie-break in the final.
With a combined age of 42, the youngest WTAF final since 2004 (Sharapova/S.Williams), Gauff and Zheng battled for three hours, with Gauff consistently playing from behind.
Zheng served for the 1st at 5-3. After leading 30/love, she was forced to save a BP, but held to take the lead in the match. She led 3-1 in the 2nd, as well, only to see Gauff reel off four straight games. Gauff served at 5-3, was broken, but then broke Zheng in the following game to send things to a 3rd.
In the decider, Gauff fell behind love/40 in game 1. She DF'd on Zheng's fourth BP, but managed to erase that break disadvantage, as well as another in the set after Zheng had served for the title at 5-4. Gauff held to lead 6-5, and had a pair of MP on Zheng's serve in game 12.
Zheng saved both MP to force a TB, but Gauff raced to a 6-0 in the first-to-seven format (Coco had to ask the chair umpire, just to be sure). Zheng delayed Gauff's celebration, but on her third MP of the breaker (5th overall) Coco prevailed 7-2 to become the first U.S. winner of the title in a decade (Serena '14).
2. WTAF rr #1 - Iga Swiatek def. Barbora Krejcikova
...4-6/7-5/6-2. In her first match since the U.S. Open, and first with new coach Wim Fissette, Swiatek rallies against Krejcikova, who entered having split her four meetings with the Pole.
Krejcikova had the belief early on, but not the follow-through late, taking a 6-4/3-0 (one-break) lead before falling in three. The Czech had one final shot to wrest control back in the 2nd set, reaching 30/30 at 5-5 on Swiatek's serve. But a crosscourt backhand winner off the line from the former #1 ended the threat, as Swiatek then broke to tie the match and took a 5-0 lead in the 3rd.
Ultimately, Krejcikova would "get another shot" at Swiatak, albeit via a final round robin match vs. Gauff.
===============================================
3. WTAF rr #2 - Coco Gauff def. Iga Swiatek
...6-3/6-4. In a face-off with players trying out new coaches (Iga w/ Wim Fissette, Coco w/ Matt Daly), the latter combo (at least on the surface) proved more of a difference-maker. Gauff's second win in thirteen meetings vs. Swiatek is her first in straight sets (Swiatek won all 22 sets in her 11 wins in the series).
The loss officially ended Swiatek's bid for a third straight #1 season.
...7-5/6-4. With Swiatek's loss to Gauff having opened the door for Krejcikova to advance with a win, the Czech battled through difficulties serving out both the 1st and 2nd sets, but ultimately saved 11 of 12 BP on the day and finally converted on her third MP attempt. With a straight sets win, not only did Krejcikova advance to the semis ahead of Swiatek, but she *won* the whole group.
5. WTAF rr #3 - Elena Rybakina def. Aryna Sabalenka
...6-4/3-6/6-1. Rybakina closes out her WTAF with just her second win since the Wimbledon QF, joining Swiatek as the only players with multiple victories over Sabalenka in '24 (and she's only played about half the season). It's her sixth career #1 win, behind only Elina Svitolina (7) amongst active players not named Venus (who has 15, whether she's through playing tour-level tennis or not).
Elena Rybakina remains one of the very few players who can stand up to Aryna Sabalenka’s power.
She’s able to match her for pace & doesn’t get pushed off the baseline.
...7-6(4)/6-3. Once Iga Swiatek lost in her second round robin match, Sabalenka wrapped up the season-ending #1 ranking. After having been seemingly peerless in Riyadh prior to that moment, Sabalenka seemed to lose her edge and concentration for the remainder of the week.
After a loss in her final rr match to Elena Rybakina, Sabalenka dropped a second straight contest here. Overall the last two seasons, she's a combined 7-5 as the world #1 (she's 104-21 as #2+ the last two seasons).
Sabalenka threatened to get back into the match after falling behind 4-1 in the 2nd, finally breaking Gauff of her eighth BP of game 6, only to then drop her own serve at love a game later. With Gauff serving at 5-2, Sabalenka broke again, but once more couldn't back it up with a hold as Gauff broke to notch her third career #1 win (over three *different* womens's #1s).
Gauff is the first player this year to record wins over both the world #1 and #2 in the same event. It's just the fourth time it's happened this decade, with now three of the occasions involving losses by Sabalenka and Swiatek. The other time the player to get the two wins (over Swiatek and Ons Jabeur) *was* the Belarusian.
...the undefeated round robin runs of both WTAF finalist duos included rallies from MP down. Both saved MP in deciding MTB, as Siniakova secured her fourth (third in four seasons) year-end doubles #1 ranking along the way, but Dabrowksi & Routliffe claimed the title.
...6-7(8)/6-2/7-6(7). A 2nd Round tug-of-war in Michigan, as Marino led 5-2 in the 1st set, holding a SP at 6-5 and another two in the TB before Chirico grabbed the match lead.
Come the 3rd, it was Chirico who led 5-2, and served for the match a game later. Marino rallied to also serve for the match at 6-5, only to see the contest head to a deciding TB. Once there, Chirico led 5-3 before the two traded off on MP chances, first Marino at 6-5, then Chirico at 7-6 before the Canadian finally converted on her second MP at 8-7.
Marino went on to win the title on Sunday.
===============================================
9. WTAF rr #1 - Aryna Sabalenka def. Zheng Qinwen
...6-3/6-4. Sabalenka improves to 4-0 vs. Zheng in 2024, 5-0 vs. the Olympic Gold medalist since late '23.
===============================================
10. Midland 125 Final - Rebecca Marino def. Alycia Parks
...6-2/6-1. Parks loses here, but maintains her ice cold or scalding hot pattern for 2024.
Earlier this season, the Bannerette followed up a career-best slam result (AO 3r) by soon experiencing a horrid 1-15 stretch that she then turned into a 15-1 surge in June/July that included a pair of 125 titles (Gaiba on grass, Warsaw on hard) and Wimbledon qualifying run. Since Warsaw, Parks had 1-4 and 1-5 skids before waking up again this week in Midland with wins over the likes of Caty McNally, Astra Sharma and Lauren Davis to reach her third 125 singles final of the season.
...6-4/6-7(2)/7-6(3). Stakusic has been a part of some tight, exciting matches in recent weeks, and even won her maiden 125 title. In Midland, she came out on the wrong side of the scoreboard vs. the veteran Bannerette despite holding a big lead in the 3rd.
The Canadian teen led 4-0 in the decider, and twice serve for the win. She held a MP on Lepchenko's serve at 5-3, but the 38-year old (twice the age of her 19-year old opponent) ultimately prevailed in a TB.
...6-2/7-6(4). After an encouraging start -- a tour-level final in Adelaide, and AO/Dubai 1000 QF -- Mladenovic's doubles season has generally been relegated to teaming with numerous different partners in lesser events (save for a brief late summer stint w/ Zhang Shuai, with whom she reached the Toronto 1000 QF and U.S. Open final).
The Pastry, a former doubles #1, picked up her biggest title of the season alongside Erjavec in the Colombian 125 event, adding it to a pair of ITF wins ($35K and $100K) this year.
Meanwhile, Erjavec also reached the singles final, the biggest of her career, before a loss to Irina-Camelia Begu. She jumps to #173 in the rankings, not far off the career high (#168) she set this spring.
===============================================
13. $35K Miami Final - Dasha Vidmanova def. Mayu Crossley
...4-6/6-4/6-1. It's heading toward mid-November, but the "another week, another Crusher champion" theme still applies.
In Miami, the University of Georgia's Vidmanova, 21, won in her fourth straight challenger final appearance this season, rallying from a set down to defeat 18-year old Crossley, who was seeking her maiden pro title.
...3-6/7-6(3) [11-9]. Errani & Paolini (1-2) failed to make the SF, yet had MP in both of their rr defeats. In the final rr match in Riyadh, the Italians lost in a battle for the remaining SF spot vs. Chan & Kudermetova. They'd held two MP at 5-4 in the 2nd set, and after saving three MP in the MTB saw their journey end on MP #4.
The loss leaves Errani still one short of having collected the six biggest doubles titles in the game. She won a Career Doubles Slam with Roberta Vinci, then Olympic Gold with Paolini this summer. She's reached two WTAF semis, but has still not been able to become the fifth woman to win all six crowns in her career.
The only other women who've done it are Gigi Fernandez and Pam Shriver, both with different partners, and Barbora Krejcikova/Katerina Siniakova as a duo.
===============================================
2. Midland 125 2nd Rd. - Kari Miller def. Polina Kudermetova
...6-3/2-6/7-6(8). On friendly ground in Michigan, Wolverine NCAAer Miller erases a 4-1 3rd set lead by Kudermetova, a tour-level semifinalist in Merida just a week ago.
The Hordette served for the match at 5-3, then later held four MP in the deciding TB before Miller pulled away for the 10-8 win.
This isn’t the first time something like this is happening in sports world. I’ve often chosen not to speak up, but I believe it’s time to address the need for respect and professionalism in sports media. These moments distract from the true essence of (cont.)
3/3 sport and the dedication all athletes bring to the field. I love tennis deeply, and I want to see it represented in a way that honors the commitment we make to compete at this level.
Tennis Channel has announced they have removed Jon Wertheim from the air indefinitely after his lack of professionalism and indecent remark insulting Barbora Krejcikova
It's a good start but unfortunately TC remains vague about the actual comment and the clear sexism and lookism pic.twitter.com/G6BDPjstz9
=REACHED FINAL IN WTA CHAMPIONSHIP/WTAF DEBUT=
1979 Tracy Austin, USA
1981 Andrea Jaeger, USA
1994 Lindsay Davenport, USA
1996 Martina Hingis, SUI
2001 Serena Williams, USA (W)
2004 Maria Sharapova, RUS (W)
2011 Petra Kvitova, CZE (W)
2014 Simona Halep, ROU
2016 Dominika Cibulkova, SVK (W)
2018 Sloane Stephens, USA
2019 Ash Barty, AUS (W)
2021 Anett Kontaveit, EST
2024 Zheng Qinwen, CHN
=WTA CHAMPIONSHIP/WTAF WS FINALS=
1972 Chris Evert d. Kerry Reid
1973 Chris Evert d.Nancy Richey
1974 Evonne Goolagong d. Chris Evert
1975 Chris Evert d. Martina Navratilova
1976 Evonne Goolagong d. Chris Evert
1977 Chris Evert d. Sue Barker
1978 Martina Navratilova d. Evonne Goolagong
1979 Martina Navratilova d. Tracy Austin
1980 Tracy Austin d. Martina Navratilova
1981 Martina Navratilova d. Andrea Jaeger
1982 Sylvia Hanika d. Martina Navratilova
1983 Martina Navratilova d. Chris Evert-Lloyd
1984 Martina Navratilova d. Chris Evert-Lloyd
1985 Martina Navratilova d. Helena Sukova
1986a Martina Navratilova d. Hana Mandlikova
1986b Martina Navratilova d. Steffi Graf
1987 Steffi Graf d. Gabriela Sabatini
1988 Gabriela Sabatini d. Pam Shriver
1989 Steffi Graf d. Martina Navratilova
1990 Monica Seles d. Gabriela Sabatini
1991 Monica Seles d. Martina Navratilova
1992 Monica Seles d. Martina Navratilova
1993 Steffi Graf d. Arantxa Sanchez Vicario
1994 Gabriela Sabatini d. Lindsay Davenport
1995 Steffi Graf d. Anke Huber
1996 Steffi Graf d. Martina Hingis
1997 Jana Novotna d. Mary Pierce
1998 Martina Hingis d. Lindsay Davenport
1999 Lindsay Davenport d. Martina Hingis
2000 Martina Hingis d. Monica Seles
2001 Serena Williams w/o Lindsay Davenport
2002 Kim Clijsters d. Serena Williams
2003 Kim Clijsters d. Amelie Mauresmo
2004 Maria Sharapova d. Serena Williams
2005 Amelie Mauresmo d. Mary Pierce
2006 Justine Henin-Hardenne d. Amelie Mauresmo
2007 Justine Henin d. Maria Sharapova
2008 Venus Williams d. Vera Zvonareva
2009 Serena Williams d. Venus Williams
2010 Kim Clijsters d. Caroline Wozniacki
2011 Petra Kvitova d. Victoria Azarenka
2012 Serena Williams d. Maria Sharapova
2013 Serena Williams d. Li Na
2014 Serena Williams d. Simona Halelp
2015 Aga Radwanska d. Petra Kvitova
2016 Dominika Cibulkova d. Angelique Kerber
2017 Caroline Wozniacki d. Venus Williams
2018 Elina Svitolina d. Sloane Stephens
2019 Ash Barty d. Elina Svitolina
2021 Garbine Muguruza d. Anett Kontaveit
2022 Caroline Garcia d. Aryna Sabalenka
2023 Iga Swiatek d. Jessie Pegula
2024 Coco Gauff d. Zheng Qinwen
=WTA CHAMPIONSHIP/WTAF WD CHAMPIONS=
1973 Rosie Casals / Margaret Court
1974 Billie Jean King / Rosie Casals
1975 Margaret Court / Virginia Wade
1976 Billie Jean King / Betty Stove
1977 Martina Navratilova / Betty Stove
1978 Billie Jean King / Martina Navratilova
1979 Francoise Durr / Betty Stove
1980 Billie Jean King / Martina Navratilova
1981 Martina Navratilova / Pam Shriver
1982 Martina Navratilova / Pam Shriver
1983 Martina Navratilova / Pam Shriver
1984 Martina Navratilova / Pam Shriver
1985 Martina Navratilova / Pam Shriver
1986a Hana Mandlikova / Wendy Turnbull
1986b Martina Navratilova / Pam Shriver
1987 Martina Navratilova / Pam Shriver
1988 Martina Navratilova / Pam Shriver
1989 Martina Navratilova / Pam Shriver
1990 Kathy Jordan / Liz Smylie
1991 Martina Navratilova / Pam Shriver
1992 Arantxa Sanchez Vicario / Helena Sukova
1993 Gigi Fernandez / Natalia Zvereva
1994 Gigi Fernandez / Natalia Zvereva
1995 Jana Novotna / Arantxa Sanchez Vicario
1996 Lindsay Davenport / Mary Joe Fernandez
1997 Lindsay Davenport / Jana Novotna
1998 Lindsay Davenport / Natasha Zvereva
1999 Martina Hingis / Anna Kournikova
2000 Martina Hingis / Anna Kournikova
2001 Lisa Raymond / Rennae Stubbs
2002 Elena Dementieva / Janette Husarova
2003 Virginia Ruano-Pascual / Paola Suarez
2004 Nadia Petrova / Meghann Shaughnessy
2005 Lisa Raymond / Samantha Stosur
2006 Lisa Raymond / Samantha Stosur
2007 Cara Black / Liezel Huber
2008 Cara Black / Liezel Huber
2009 Nuria Llagostera-Vives / Maria Jose Martinez-Sanchez
2010 Gisela Dulko / Flavia Pennetta
2011 Liezel Huber / Lisa Raymond
2012 Maria Kirilenko / Nadia Petrova
2013 Hsieh Su-Wei / Peng Shuai
2014 Cara Black / Sania Mirza
2015 Martina Hingis / Sania Mirza
2016 Ekaterina Makarova / Elena Vesnina
2017 Timea Babos / Andrea Hlavackova
2018 Timea Babos / Kristina Mladenovic
2019 Timea Babos / Kristina Mladenovic
2021 Barbora Krejcikova / Katerina Siniakova
2022 Veronika Kudermetova / Elise Mertens
2023 Laura Siegemund / Vera Zvonareva
2024 Gaby Dabrowski / Erin Routliffe
*DEFEATED #1 and #2-RANKED PLAYERS IN EVENT - since 2010*
2010 SYD: #5 Elena Dementieva = #2 Safina, #1 S.Williams
2010 WTAF: #4 Kim Clijsters = #2 Zvonareva, #1 Wozniacki
2012 MAD: #9 Serena Williams = #2 Sharapova, #1 Azarenka
2012 WTAF: #3 Serena Williams = #1 Azarenka, #2 Sharapova
2017 CIN: #6 Garbine Muguruza = #1 Pliskova, #2 Halep
2018 CIN: #17 Kiki Bertens = #2 Wozniacki, #1 Halep
2022 WTAF: #7 Aryna Sabalenka (L) = #2 Jabeur, #1 Swiatek
2023 DUB: #30 Barbora Krejcikova = #2 Sabalenka, #1 Swiatek
2023 IW: #10 Elena Rybakina = #1 Swiatek, #2 Sabalenka
2024 WTAF: #3 Coco Gauff = #2 Swiatek, #1 Sabalenka
--
NOTE: all but Sabalenka ('22 WTAF) won title
*2024 DEFEATED #1 SEED & DEFENDING CHAMPION*
Diana Shnaider - Hua Hin [1r-Linette #1, F-Zhu DC] - W
Camila Osorio - Bogota [F-Bouzkova #1, 2r-Maria DC] - W
Elena Rybakina - Stuttgart [SF-Swiatek #1/DC] - W
Elisabetta Cocciaretto - Birmingham [1r-Ostapenko #1/DC]
Eva Lys - Monastir [2r-Mertens #1/DC]
Coco Gauff - WTA Finals [rr-Swiatek DC/SF-Sabalenka #1] - W
*CAREER WTA #1 WINS active*
15 - Venus Williams, USA
7 - Elina Svitolina, UKR
6 - Petra Kvitova, CZE
6 - ELENA RYBAKINA, KAZ
5 - Aryna Sabalenka, BLR
4 - Belinda Bencic, SUI
4 - Jessie Pegula, USA
4 - Caroline Wozniacki, DEN
3 - Victoria Azarenka, BLR
3 - COCO GAUFF, USA
3 - Sofia Kenin, USA
*WTA #1 WINS (40) - 2020-24*
6 - ELENA RYBAKINA, KAZ
4 - Jessie Pegula, USA
4 - Aryna Sabalenka, BLR
3 - COCO GAUFF, USA
2 - Barbora Krejcikova, CZE
1 - Ekaterina Alexandrova, RUS
1 - Paula Badosa, ESP
1 - Jennifer Brady, USA
1 - Danielle Collins, USA
1 - Alize Cornet, FRA
1 - Caroline Garcia, FRA
1 - Beatriz Haddad Maia, BRA
1 - Anna Kalinskaya, RUS
1 - Sofia Kenin, USA
1 - Madison Keys, USA
1 - Petra Kvitova, CZE
1 - Magda Linette, POL
1 - Karolina Muchova, CZE
1 - Linda Noskova, CZE
1 - Alona Ostapenko, LAT
1 - Yulia Putintseva, KAZ
1 - Shelby Rogers, USA
1 - Sara Sorribes Tormo, ESP
1 - Elina Svitolina, UKR
1 - Iga Swiatek, POL
1 - Zheng Qinwen, CHN [wins-by-nation, 2020-24]
12 - USA
7 - KAZ
5 - CZE
4 - BLR
2 - ESP,FRA,POL,RUS
1 - BRA,CHN,LAT,UKR
--
LOSSES: 24-Swiatek, 11-Barty, 5-Sabalenka
*MULTIPLE #1 WINS IN A SEASON - since 2010*
2010 (2) Samantha Stosur
2011 (2) Dominika Cibulkova, Julia Goerges, Vera Zvonareva
2012 (4) Serena Williams
2012 (2) Maria Sharapova
2013 - none w/ 2
2014 (3) - Alize Cornet
2015 - none w/ 2
2016 (2) - Elina Svitolina
2017 (3) - Elina Svitolina, Caroline Wozniacki
2017 (2) - Garbine Muguruza, CoCo Vandeweghe
2018 - none w/ 2
2019 (3) - Belinda Bencic; (2) Sofia Kenin
2020 - none w/ 2
2021 - none w/ 2
2022 - none w/ 2
2023 (3) - Jessie Pegula, Elena Rybakina
2024 (2) Elena Rybakina
*MOST WEEKS AS WTA DOUBLES #1*
237 - Martina Navratilova
199 - Liezel Huber
163 - Cara Black
137 - Lisa Raymond
125 - KATERINA SINIAKOVA (as of November 11)
124 - Natasha Zvereva
111 - Arantxa Sanchez Vicario
110 - Roberta Vinci [active]
125 - KATERINA SINIAKOVA
87 - Sara Errani
59 - Hsieh Su-wei
39 - Elise Mertens
34 - Latisha Chan
32 - Bethanie Mattek-Sands
18 - Barbora Krejcikova
14 - Timea Babos
12 - Storm Hunter
12 - Kristina Mladenovic
8 - Erin Routliffe
8 - Venus Williams
7 - Coco Gauff
6 - Aryna Sabalenka
6 - Lucie Safarova
3 - Jessie Pegula
*WTA SEASON-ENDING #1s - w/ finish the following season*
1975 Chris Evert, USA (1)
1976 Chris Evert, USA (1)
1977 Chris Evert, USA (2)
1978 Martina Navratilova, TCH (1)
1979 Martina Navratilova, TCH (3)
1980 Chris Evert-Lloyd, USA (1)
1981 Chris Evert-Lloyd, USA (2)
1982 Martina Navratilova, USA (1)
1983 Martina Navratilova, USA (1)
1984 Martina Navratilova, USA (1)
1985 Martina Navratilova, USA (1)
1986 Martina Navratilova, USA (2)
1987 Steffi Graf, FRG (1)
1988 Steffi Graf, FRG (1)
1989 Steffi Graf, FRG (1)
1990 Steffi Graf, GER (2)
1991 Monica Seles, YUG (1)
1992 Monica Seles, YUG (8)
1993 Steffi Graf, GER (1)
1994 Steffi Graf, GER (1)
1995 (co) Steffi Graf, GER (1) and Monica Seles, USA (2)
1996 Steffi Graf, GER (28 = injury)
1997 Martina Hingis, SUI (2)
1998 Lindsay Davenport, USA (2)
1999 Martina Hingis, SUI (1)
2000 Martina Hingis, SUI (4)
2001 Lindsay Davenport, USA (12 = injury)
2002 Serena Williams, USA (3)
2003 Justine Henin-Hardenne, BEL (8)
2004 Lindsay Davenport, USA (1)
2005 Lindsay Davenport, USA (25 = injury)
2006 Justine Henin-Hardenne, BEL (1)
2007 Justine Henin, BEL (retired)
2008 Jelena Jankovic, SRB (8)
2009 Serena Williams, USA (4)
2010 Caroline Wozniacki, DEN (1)
2011 Caroline Wozniacki, DEN (10)
2012 Victoria Azarenka, BLR (2)
2013 Serena Williams, USA (1)
2014 Serena Williams, USA (1)
2015 Serena Williams, USA (2)
2016 Angelique Kerber, GER (21)
2017 Simona Halep, ROU (1)
2018 Simona Halep, ROU (4)
2019 Ash Barty, AUS (1)
2020 Ash Barty, AUS (1)
2021 Ash Barty, AUS (retired)
2022 Iga Swiatek, POL (1)
2023 Iga Swiatek, POL (2)
2024 Aryna Sabalenka, BLR
*WTA SEASON-ENDING DOUBLES #1s*
1984 Martina Navratilova, USA
1985 Pam Shriver, USA
1986 Martina Navratilova, USA
1987 Martina Navratilova, USA
1988 Martina Navratilova, USA
1989 Martina Navratilova, USA
1990 Helena Sukova, TCH
1991 Jana Novotna, TCH
1992 Helena Sukova, TCH
1993 Gigi Fernandez, USA
1994 Natasha Zvereva, BLR
1995 Arantxa Sanchez Vicario, ESP
1996 Arantxa Sanchez Vicario, ESP
1997 Natasha Zvereva, BLR
1998 Natasha Zvereva, BLR
1999 Anna Kournikova, RUS
2000 Ai Sugiyama, JPN
2001 Lisa Raymond, USA
2002 Paola Suarez, ARG
2003 Paola Suarez, ARG
2004 Virginia Ruano Pascual, ESP
2005 Cara Black, ZIM
2006 Lisa Raymond/Samantha Stosur, USA/AUS
2007 Cara Black/Liezel Huber, ZIM/USA
2008 Cara Black/Liezel Huber, ZIM/USA
2009 Cara Black/Liezel Huber, ZIM/USA
2010 Gisela Dulko, ARG
2011 Liezel Huber, USA
2012 Roberta Vinci, ITA
2013 Sara Errani/Roberta Vinci, ITA/ITA
2014 Sara Errani/Roberta Vinci, ITA/ITA
2015 Sania Mirza, IND
2016 Sania Mirza, IND
2017 Latisha Chan/Martina Hingis, TPE/SUI
2018 Barbora Krejcikova/Katerina Siniakova, CZE/CZE
2019 Barbora Strycova, CZE
2020 Hsieh Su-wei, TPE
2021 Katerina Siniakova, CZE
2022 Katerina Siniakova, CZE
2023 Storm Hunter, AUS
2024 Katerina Siniakova, CZE
