Tennis Frontier

Category: ATP World Tour Finals

The Top 10 Social Media Followings in Women’s Tennis

Serena Williams has been the dominant player of her era, but is she the Queen of social media?

Tennis Frontier went on a fact-finding mission to see which players were rocking the realm of Cyberspace with social media followings. We checked out the Twitter, Facebook and Instagram followings of the major players. Overall figures are shown in brackets.

No.10 Agnieszka Radwanska (Followers: 1,543,660)

Polish playmaker, Aga Radwanska squeezes into the Top 10 edging out Spanish starlet Garbiñe Muguruza (1,524,314) and Martina Hingis (1,353,066) by virtue of a pretty hefty Facebook following.

Facebook: 948,660
Twitter: 312,000
Instagram: 283,000

[divider]

No.9 Petra Kvitova (1,553,991)

Czech powerhouse and two-time major winner Petra Kvitova chimes in at Number 9 on the list. Petra has a pretty balanced following across all three of the major social media networks.

Facebook: 664,991
Twitter: 535,000
Instagram: 354,000

[divider]

No.8 Angelique Kerber (1,649,984)

Former world number one Angelique Kerber ranks 8 on the list. The German star posts in both English and her native language.

Facebook: 834,984
Twitter: 357,000
Instagram: 458,000

[divider]

No.7 Simona Halep (2,219,669)

The pride of Romania, Simona Halep performs solidly on Facebook and Instragram, less so on Twitter where she would rank outside the Top 10.

Facebook: 1,412,669
Twitter: 196,000
Instagram: 611,000

[divider]

No.6 Victoria Azarenka (3,500,028)

Vika has a solid following of over 3.5 million. The Belarusian former world number one is particularly active on Twitter and this reflects in her numbers.

Facebook: 1,490,028
Twitter: 1,410,000
Instagram: 600,000

[divider]

No.5 Eugenie Bouchard (4,924,200)

Genie bats way above her tennis accomplishments when it comes to social media. The Canadien weighs in at Number 5 on the overall list and No.3 on Instagram. Photogenic, sassy and a marketers dream.

Facebook: 1,524,200
Twitter: 1,700,000
Instagram: 1,700,000

[divider]

No.4 Venus Williams (4,995,700)

Legendary veteran Venus Williams appears at Number 4 on the list. Not quite as active on social media as some of her counterparts, she still rides high.

Facebook: 2,285,700
Twitter: 1,770,000
Instagram: 940,000

[divider]

No.3 Caroline Wozniacki (5,947,376)

Caro’s recent major winning exploits have given her a boost, but she was doing pretty well in any event. Wozniacki is very active in promotional work and Sports Illustrated photoshoots don’t harm the cause.
The Danish star ranks 3.

Facebook: 1,567,376
Twitter: 3,180,000
Instagram: 1,200,000

[divider]

No.2 Serena Williams (23,996,996)

Serena Williams transcends the sport. Nearly 24 million followers give her a buffer of over 18 million followers to third-placed Caroline Wozniacki. Williams is ranked #1 on both Instagram and Twitter in comparison to her peers.

Facebook: 5,296,996
Twitter: 10,800,000
Instagram: 7,900,000

[divider]

No.1 Maria Sharapova (26,834,575)

Maria Sharapova comes top of the list, courtesy of a mammoth 15 million + Facebook following. The Russian can rightfully claim the title of “Tennis Queen of Social Media”. With nearly 27 million overall followers, Sharapova is the marketing gift that just keeps giving.

Facebook: 15,214,575
Twitter: 8,620,000
Instagram: 3,000,000

Photo by Visit Victoria

[divider]

Discuss this article and more in the Tennis Frontier Forum

April 13, 2018
2015 ATP World Tour Finals: Title Match Preview

As predicted in the tournament preview here this time last week, Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer shall contest today’s final of the season ending finale. It is fitting that the two best players of the year, who have contested six finals this season, should lock horns in the final tour match of the year.

Unlike last year, with the spectre of the Davis Cup Final lurking in the background, Federer can go into this match knowing that he can go flat out with no playing obligations until January of next year. Neither has he exerted himself physically nor emotionally in his semi-final against Wawrinka as he did last year, the result of which was a precautionary pull out of the final due to a tender back and representing his country in the Davis Cup final the following weekend. Federer has many incentives to win. Posting two wins in a week against Novak would be quite a punctuation mark with which to close the season out with. He would also have some momentum going into next season, being undefeated in five matches against his top eight peers. Furthermore, were he to haul the trophy tonight, he would climb back to number two in the world, crucial with regards to being seeded high at the Australian Open in January and avoiding meeting Djokovic before the final, and the potential of threatening rivals all being clumped together on the opposite side of the draw.

Djokovic meanwhile has masses to play for in tonight’s match. He can add a career best eleventh title in a season to cap off his best season in which the smallest title he won was a lucrative 500 point event in Beijing. He can also match Sampras’ and Lendl’s haul of five year end championships, putting him within striking distance of record holder Federer’s six. Finally, today is an opportunity to once again tie Federer in their head to head tally, and with the opportunity to face his Swiss nemesis on favourable slow hard courts and clay in the first third of next season, surely there has never been a better opportunity to put himself in a position to inch ahead of Roger for the first time in their nine year rivalry?

In terms of their form there is little to choose between the pair. Both suffered blips in form in the group stages, Federer losing a set in a scrappy affair against Nishikori, whilst Novak lost his sole match of the tournament against Roger earlier in the week. Both have looked imperious though in all other matches besides, saving some of their best for yesterday’s semi-final clashes. Novak beat Nadal for the fourth time this season in an increasingly one-sided rivalry, Whilst Roger vanquished Wawrinka after initially losing an early break, extending his lead over his countryman to 18-3.

I expect a thrilling match this evening. Both are excellent indoor players, each has won a title in these conditions in recent weeks. I will give the edge to Djokovic in this encounter. I think that he is a quick learner, he will thus have analysed how Federer hurt him in Tuesday’s clash, and will make a concerted effort to hurt him on the return, hit with depth to pin Federer back, and hit his signature backhand down the line at every available opportunity. The longer he stretches out the match, turns it into a war of attrition, the more errors he will draw from the Swiss. If Federer comes out of the blocks quickly though, serves at a high percentage, dictates from on top of the baseline, and is able to be at his slicing and dicing best, attacking the net intelligently and with purpose, he could frustrate the Serbs rhythm sufficiently to snatch the victory.

Novak to win in three sets.

Author’s Blog: danopines22

[divider]

Cover Photo (Creative Commons License): Marianne Bevis

November 22, 2015
2015 World Tour Finals: Semifinals Preview

First Semi-final: Djokovic vs. Nadal

Nadal has been the standout player of not only his group, but perhaps the tournament. He dealt with Wawrinka and Murray pretty tamely, dispatching both in straight sets, whilst surviving a tenacious challenge from compatriot Ferrer to come back and win the final two sets on Friday. This is a timely bit of form for Nadal, beating three quality opponents on his least favourite surface in his poorest season in a decade.

Djokovic has equally surprised. He destroyed Nishikori in straight sets, but wasn’t at his sharpest against an inspired Federer on Tuesday, falling in straight sets. This was not a great surprise, Federer perhaps being the greatest indoor player in history, as well as Novak’s only regular challenger this season. Nevertheless, the manner in which he fell away in the second set against the Swiss is cause for minor concern. He restored order to his world mind on Thursday, taking down Berdych, who offered some resistance, in two sets.

I think Ferrer is akin to Djokovic, but without the weapons. He was able to push Rafa with defence and speed. Novak possesses these attributes, but in greater abundance. Furthermore, he has a strong serve, the best backhand in the game, and the ability to dictate and finish points quickly. I think therefore, despite his loss to Federer, form and the recent history of their rivalry shall see the Serb prevail. He has Nadal’s number now, likes the rhythm of their rallies and enjoys the edge in physicality. Nadal has been showing glimpses of brilliance this week, but it would take his sustaining of that level in combination with Djokovic turning up sluggish and error prone to cause the upset.

Second Semi-Final: Federer vs. Wawrinka

It had to happen again, didn’t it? Last year the Swiss pair met in the semi-finals and delivered a pulsating contest that was far and away the match of the tournament. It was also a heated contest. Tensions were high throughout, Wawrinka exchanging words with Mrs. Federer. Roger saved five match points before staggering over the line. The match, which was a highly physical and emotional affair, left Federer in such poor shape he was unable to contest the final.

Federer has enjoyed a great tournament so far. He made short work of Berdych in his first round match, before dispatching Novak in straight sets in his second with an awesome display offence and variety. He had his struggles in his last match against Nishikori, producing multiple errors and breaks, and also looked tired out in stretches of the match before attacking decisively to win whilst Kei served to stay in the match. I suppose having already won the group, the last match was as good a one as any to have a sluggish performance and set off the alarm bells for coach Edberg for what needs to be worked on for the weekend.

Wawrinka has had to work harder than his countryman to reach this stage. Wawrinka was a shadow of himself in his opening match against Nadal, falling meekly in a match I thought would be an epic contest. This was seemingly a blip though, as he turned things around from thereon in to beat Ferrer and Murray in straight sets.

I think Roger has the edge in this encounter. If physicality is not an issue, I believe variety and a generally good run of recent indoor form will see him through Wawrinka. Federer leads their head-to-head 17-3, and has only ever lost to Stan on clay surfaces. Wawrinka likes the high ball, and Federer has of late used his slice and court craft to offer opponents low bouncing, off pace balls. This could be decisive against Stan, a player who benefits much with time to set up his strokes. Further, Stan is a good rather than great mover, and I think Federer will do everything he can to get his man chasing awkward shots. I expect a tight affair and a shot making exhibition. I think if the Federer which beat Djokovic and Berdych turns up, as opposed to the one who edged Nishikori, we will see him contest tomorrow’s final.

Author’s Blog: World Tour Finals: Semifinal Preview

[divider]

Cover Photos (Creative Commons License): By Marianne Bevis.
Followed by the name, such as Marianne Bevis

November 21, 2015