The WTA Finals in Guadalajara (Mexico) start this Wednesday with two Spaniards in the running, Garbiñe Muguruza and Paula Badosa, a circumstance that had not occurred since 2000 with Arantxa Sánchez Vicario and Conchita Martínez. The faces will not be seen in the previous phase, after the draw. The tournament is very open, with the resignation of number one Ashleigh Barty, and without Naomi Osaka, who has not competed since the US Open in a season marked by her mental health problems. There are no past WTA Finals champions among the eight. Not even a finalist.
From left to right, Kontaveit, Muguruza, Sakkari, Sabalenka, Krejcikova, Pliskova, Swiatek and Badosa.
AFP7 via Europa Press
Aryna Sabalenka (Belarus)
Age: 23
Ranking: 2ª
Titles: 10 (2 in 2021)
The Belarusian made her debut in the teachers’ appointment after reaching the semifinals of Wimbledon and US Open, where she lost to Karolina Pliskova and Leylah Fernández, respectively. Winner this year in Abu Dhabi and Madrid, her record is 44-16. And 13 of his losses were to three sets. Sell your skin expensive.
Barbora Krejcikova (R. Checa)
Age: 25
Ranking: 3ª
Titles: 3 (3 in 2021)
The Czech, champion at Roland Garros in addition to Strasbourg and Prague, arrives demanded by the effort of playing the finals of the Billie Jean King Cup last week. In addition, he will also play the Finals in doubles with Siniakova, with whom he won the Olympic gold and triumphed at Roland Garros.
Karolina Pliskova (R. Checa)
Age: 29
Ranking: 4ª
Titles: 16 (0 in 2021)
The most veteran of the squad, she resigned from the Federation Cup finals in her country to prepare for the WTA. It is his fifth consecutive appearance and the semifinals have been his ceiling in the last three editions. He’s lethal on serve (364 aces this year and a leader in four of the last six seasons). Number one in 2017, he has two Grand Slam finals.
Garbiñe Muguruza (Spain)
Age: 28
Ranking: 5ª
Titles: 9 (2 in 2021)
The Spanish returns to the teachers’ appointment for a fourth participation (she did not qualify in 2018 and 2019 and in 2020 they were not held) and her best result is the semifinals of 2015. She began the 15th year and is 5th in the ranking, with titles in Dubai and Chicago. However, the Grand Slams (2015 Roland Garros and 2017 Wimbledon champion) have resisted him this season.
Maria Sakkari (Greece)
Age: 26
Ranking: 6ª
Titles: 1 (0 in 2021)
Another debutante. The first Greek in the women’s Masters has improved a lot this year, with seven wins to three losses against top-10 players. His semifinals at the US Open, Roland Garros and Miami have served to obtain the pass. He only has one title, Rabat 2019, but his strength this year makes him dangerous.
Anett Kontaveit (Estonia)
Age: 25
Ranking: 8ª
Titles: 5 (4 in 2021)
Also a premiere, the Estonian starred in a fabulous final sprint to reach Guadalajara. A 26-2 record in his last seven tournaments has earned him four titles (Cleveland, Ostrava, Moscow and Cluj-Napoca). But in the big did not shine.
Iga Swiatek (Polonia)
Age: 20
Ranking: 9ª
Titles: 3 (2 in 2021)
After her brilliant appearance at Roland Garros 2020, lifting the title, the Polish has triumphed in 2021 in Adelaide and Rome. She has not played since Indian Wells, and she seems fresher than the rest of her rivals. At 20 years old, she is the youngest in the tournament.
Paula Badosa (Spain)
Age: 23
Ranking: 10ª
Titles: 2 (2 in 2021)
The Spanish confirmed in 2021 what she had been aiming for since she won Junior Roland Garros in 2015. She has released her record with Belgrade and the WTA 1,000 of Indian Wells, the fifth largest, which puts her in the top-10 for the first time in her career. career. His confidence has made him come back nine games this year that he started losing. More than anyone.