2025 WTA News & Gossip

[MargaretMcAleer]

Leylah Fernandez wins her 5th career title in the final in Osaka defeating the 18 yo Tereza Valentova who reached her first maiden career final 60 57 63

 

[Hoergren]

Rybakina won the final over Alexandrova in a sort of day and night match. After a fine impressive first set to Alexandrova the match turned completely with Rybakina finding her best and bageling Alexandrova in the second. Alexandrova did her very best in the third but couldn't do anything. Rybakina now miss 16 points to be in the season finals - at least untill she's behind again, but not many chances for that. So next week can be deciding.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Rybakina must reach the SFs at least in Tokyo to overtake Mirra Andreeva for the final spot in the end of year finals in Riyadh. Otherwise she will be the first alternate.
When the new rankings come out and with Rybakina's win in Ningbo she will move from #9 to # 7 in the WTA rankings

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

WTA Race ( with one week to go),

1. Sabalenka 10,000 Q
2. Swiatek 8,368 Q
3. Gauff 6,574 Q
4. Anisimova 5,907 Q
5. Pegula 5,183 Q
6. Keys 4,449 Q
7. Paolini 4,325 (+1) Q
8. Andreeva 4,320 (-1)

9 Rybakina 4,305
10. Alexandrova 3,375.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

WTA Top 100 New Career Highs. Monday 20th October,

32. Joint
33. Jovic
37. Boisson
53. Eala
58 Valentova
59 Jacquemot
69 Sonmex
80 Tjen
88 Waltert
92 Semonistaja

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

New WTA Top Ten, Monday 20th October,

1. Sabalenka 10,400
2. Swiatek 8,768
3. Gauff 7,873
4. Anisimova 5,924
5. Pegula 5,183
6. Paolini 4,525 (+2)
7. Rybakina 4,505 (+2)
8. Keys 4,449 (-1)
9. Andreeva 4,319 (-3)
10.Alexandrova 3,375

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

WTA500 Pan Pacific Open, Japan
October 20-26
Defending champion, Zheng, who wont be defending her title in 2025
WC Andreescu, Nikola Bartunkova, Wakana Sonobe, Moyuka Uchijimi
PR. Marketa Vondrousova
Withdrawals, Zheng, Kasatkina, Mertens, Navarro, Osaka, Pegula, Paolini, Tauson.
The Top 4 seeds receive a first round bye.Rybakina, Alexandrova, Bencic, Noskova

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Timea Babos and Luisa Stefani have locked in their qualification for the WTA Finals in Riyadh, 4 finals in 2025, including winning runs in Linz and Strasbourg

 

[kskate2]

Lil Bit sent goddess packing in R1. I think she will play Elena in R2. Will be another tough match unless Leylah shows up lame since she just won a title on Sun.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Lil Bit sent goddess packing in R1. I think she will play Elena in R2. Will be another tough match unless Leylah shows up lame since she just won a title on Sun.

Correct Leylah does play Elena next

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

WTA500 Toray Pan Pacific, Japan,
Round of 16 matches,
Thursday October 23
Bencic (6) vs Gracheva
Rybakina (2) vs Fernandez
Alexansdrova (3) vs Cristian
Kenin (10) vs Sonobe

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Just got home and tuned into the match Rybakina v Fernandez
Elena serving for the 1st set 5-3 but is facing BPs and DFs and we are back on serve in the set 5-4 with Fernandez to serve
Fernandez has her right thigh heavily bandaged.
SP for Rybakina as Ferndanez bhand shot found the net
Rybakina wins the 1st set 64 with a good ROS
Rybakina gets a early break in the 2nd set and consolidates
Rybakina leads 3-0
Rybakina saved 3BPs and holds and leads 4-1 in the 2nd set
Rybakina will serve for the match 5-3
Rybakina defeats Fernandez 64 63 and keeps her end of year WTA finals still in contention
Rybakina W 18 UFE 18 6 Aces, Fernandez 15 W and 11 UFE her BP was 1/5
BTW if Rybakina defeats Mboko in the QFs she will qualify for the WTA finals

Earlia match, Benic d Gracheva 64 63

 

[Hoergren]

One more win in next match and Rybakina is taking part in The WTA finals. Very secure win for her today against Layla.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Alexandrova (3) had no trouble defeating Cristian in the round of 16 in Tokyo 6`1 62
Kenin (10) d Sonobe 63 16 76(2)

 

[PhiEaglesfan712]

The most frustrating thing about Rybakina's performance the past few weeks is why she can't perform like this all the time.

Having said that, I'm rooting for Mboko to beat Rybakina. I'd much rather see Andreeva in the WTA Finals over Rybakina, as that would be better for the future of women's tennis.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

WTA500 Toray Pan Pacific, Japan,
QFs
Friday 24th October,

Noskova (6) vs Kalyinskaya
Rybakina (2) vs Mboko
Alexandrova (3) vs Kenin (10)
Bencic (5) vs Muchova (8)

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

In the 1st QF match in Japan,, Kalinskaya forced to retire in the match with back issues
Noskova (6) through 60 1-0 through to the SFs

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

1st set to Rybakina 63 over Mboko,
Rybakina's 1st serve again coming to the rescue when threatened, Victoria needs to read Elena's 2nd serve better also she is not handling the high balls in a longer rally from Elena. Victoria has to remain proactive in the 2nd set, remembering she was down a set to Elena in Canada and came back to win in 3 sets.
I like the fact that Victoria is willing to go down the line on her bhand and fhand wings
I am impressed with the movement of Elena in this match, I understand there is a lot at stake, winning the match will qualify her for the WTA final
Victoria has really concentrated on her own game in the 2nd set, hasnt had a lot of look ins on Elena service games, Elena will now serve to force a TB for the 2nd set at 5-6
SP for Mboko as Elena's bhand long
Excellent 1st serve from Elena, back to deuce
Change of direction from Victoria, her shot found the net
Elena with a good first serve she holds
TB for the 2nd set
Match is on the racket of Elena she leads 5-4 in the TB

Well done Elena winning the match 63 76(4) and qualifies for the WTA finals., also making the SFs in Japan she will play Noskova
Elena W 23 and UFE 11 Aces 5.
VictorIa W 17 and UFE 11

BTW Andreeva will now be the 1st alternate for the WTA Finals ( singles) as she and her partner Shnaider have qualified in the Doubles Finals

 

[Hoergren]

Tough match but this time with Rybakina as the winner. She earned her place in the WTA finals playing some fine tennis this week. Not often we see so narrow play to get to the finals. So bravo for the ACE queen.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

In a match that went for over 2 hours Kenin defeated Alexandrova (3) 60 27 76(4). Alexandrova was serving for the match at 5-3, Kenin broke back and the 3rd set went to a TB which Kenin won. Kenin will now await the winner of the last QF match in Japan, Bencic v Muchova, to play in the SF. A well deserved win from Kenin