WTA Tournament of Champions, Sofia

[Correspondent Kiu]

...

So for the end of season:
End Luxembourg and Moscow on Saturday (Luxembourg is already a Saturday final next year, Moscow is still Sunday)
This event runs Monday-Saturday
YEC runs Sunday-Sunday
Fed Cup final moves back a week (which has to be happening anyway, because no way will they run it the same time as the YEC)

Or they can do away with this one and go to a 16 player set-up for the YEC.

But that takes too much courage...

 

[ozza]

Or they can do away with this one and go to a 16 player set-up for the YEC.

But that takes too much courage...

I don't think the WTA want this though. The problem is the extra 8 players add not a lot. You have an extra 8 players to sell to the public of mainly unknowns. I think 16 is seen as too many players for the public to really get to know. It would kind of ruin the elite feel of the event to me.

 

[Correspondent Kiu]

Order of play:

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2013

ARMEEC ARENA

17:00 - [4] SAMANTHA STOSUR (AUS) V [5] ELENA VESNINA (RUS)
19:00 - [1] SIMONA HALEP (ROU) V [7] ALIZE CORNET (FRA)
21:00 - ELINA SVITOLINA (UKR) V [6] ANASTASIA PAVLYUCHENKOVA (RUS)

I hope Elena takes care of Old Samantha!

 

[kskate2]

Or they can do away with this one and go to a 16 player set-up for the YEC.

But that takes too much courage...

I don't think the WTA want this though. The problem is the extra 8 players add not a lot. You have an extra 8 players to sell to the public of mainly unknowns. I think 16 is seen as too many players for the public to really get to know. It would kind of ruin the elite feel of the event to me.

Agree Ozza. They can keep this tournament, just move it up a week before the YEC.

 

[Correspondent Kiu]

Scores:

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2013

ROUND ROBIN
[4] Samantha Stosur (AUS) d [5] Elena Vesnina (RUS) | 6 - 3 | 6 - 3 | :cry
[6] Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (RUS) d Elina Svitolina (UKR) | 6 - 2 | 6 - 4 |
ROUND ROBIN
[1] Simona Halep (ROU) d [7] Alize Cornet (FRA) | 6 - 4 | 6 - 4 |

 

[Moxie]

Or they can do away with this one and go to a 16 player set-up for the YEC.

But that takes too much courage...

I don't think the WTA want this though. The problem is the extra 8 players add not a lot. You have an extra 8 players to sell to the public of mainly unknowns. I think 16 is seen as too many players for the public to really get to know. It would kind of ruin the elite feel of the event to me.

Agree Ozza. They can keep this tournament, just move it up a week before the YEC.

It is really anti-climactic that they play this tournament after the YEC.

 

[Correspondent Kiu]

Two of my favs are playing today.

Order of play:

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2013

ARMEEC ARENA

17:00 - [2] ANA IVANOVIC (SRB) V [4] SAMANTHA STOSUR (AUS)
19:00 - [5] ELENA VESNINA (RUS) V [8] TSVETANA PIRONKOVA (BUL)
21:00 - [1] SIMONA HALEP (ROU) V ELINA SVITOLINA (UKR)

Oh, how quick things change...Simona should go 3-0 in this round.

 

[tossip]

Halep is doing it...she might win all her matches.
this girl is my favorite amongst the youngsters...very underrated talented player..thank goodness she is coming into her own at 22yrs.
I hope to see her in top ten next year...

 

[Correspondent Kiu]

Personally think Halep will take this. Probably in a repeat of the Moscow final. Kind of feel Halep is a cut above most of this draw. I think only Stosur can stop Halep, in theory this should be a good match up for Stosur, but Halep's still beaten her the last 2 times and has to be favoured, it was pretty emphatic in the Moscow final just 10 days ago.

I think Halep will make the YEC next year.

I am surprised you are not giving Ana a shot!

Here are scores:


THURSDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2013

ROUND ROBIN
[2] Ana Ivanovic (SRB) d [4] Samantha Stosur (AUS) | 6 - 2 | 5 - 7 | 6 - 2 |
[5] Elena Vesnina (RUS) d [8] Tsvetana Pironkova (BUL) | 6 - 2 | 4 - 6 | 6 - 0 |
ROUND ROBIN
[1] Simona Halep (ROU) d Elina Svitolina (UKR) | 6 - 1 | 6 - 1 |

 

[tossip]

Ivanovic is winning jack...go Halep!

 

[Correspondent Kiu]

Sofia 2013: Last day of Round Robin play

Ana and Elena are about to start, win for Ana and she will go 3-0 in round robin, just like Halep.

here is the order:
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 01, 2013

ARMEEC ARENA

17:00 - [2] ANA IVANOVIC (SRB) V [5] ELENA VESNINA (RUS)
19:00 - [6] ANASTASIA PAVLYUCHENKOVA (RUS) V [7] ALIZE CORNET (FRA)
21:00 - [4] SAMANTHA STOSUR (AUS) V [8] TSVETANA PIRONKOVA (BUL)

Samantha decides her own destiny, win for her and she is in.

 

[ozza]

[5] Elena Vesnina def [2] Ana Ivanovic 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (1).
[6] Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova def [7] Alize Cornet 6-2, 6-2.
[4] Samantha Stosur def [8] Tsvetana Pironkova 6-1, 6-4.

Semi-finals:
5:20pm [1] Simona Halep vs [2] Ana Ivanovic
7:30pm [4] Samantha Stosur vs [6] Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova

That is 11:20am EDT start.

 

[rubydo]

I certainly will want to catch the Halep vs Ivanovic match. Back on track with tennis after the Bosox win the World Series!

 

[Correspondent Kiu]

I hope Ana beats Simona, so ozza can believe me!

 

[Correspondent Kiu]

Ahead 2-0 in the deciding set, Ana lost 6 of the next 7 games and lost the match.
Halep's Strategy of avoiding Ana's forehand worked pretty effectively.

Simona is into the final.

 

[rubydo]

The veteran against the rising Romanian in the final. I am going on a hunch and will ride the Halep wave for the win against Sam!

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Congrats to Halep winning her 6th title of the year
Well done!!!!
I hope 2014 will bring more success for you.

 

[RJD11]

Congrats to Halep winning her 6th title of the year
Well done!!!!
I hope 2014 will bring more success for you.

After the first set it seemed pretty easy for Simona

Final - Armeec Arena 1 2 3
(1) S Halep (ROM) 2 6 6
(4) S Stosur (AUS) 6 2 2

 

[Moxie]

The veteran against the rising Romanian in the final. I am going on a hunch and will ride the Halep wave for the win against Sam!

Well-spotted, rubydo.

Here is a link to the news feed:

http://www.tennisfrontier.com/news/errani-leads-italy-to-fed-cup-over-russia-halep-wins-in-sofia/

 

[Si Si Simona]

Hi,
My first post here and just give me a chance please, I am really not bad. Need a tennis forum in my life. Its such a refreshing place. I read threads here and I couldn't find personal insults and mad behavior, just great. I wont mention "other forums" on the net. I guess many of you are here for the same reason as mine...
I guess its all comes down to the admins quality.

About me: I am the same 'Si Si Simona' from the TF forum. I NEVER insult anyone unless provoked. I am not the type and its just silly to attack someone because of a Tennis opinion.

About Simona Halep: I am nuts about her as the person that she is and the tennis player that she is.
No sexual reasons at all.

That's about it for now and I will do my best not to cross the lines of showing off with Simo.
Thanks