Elina Svitolina won her first WTA title today. Svitolina, seeded 7th, defeated 5th seed Kimiko Date-Krumm 6-2, 6-3 in the final of the WTA 125 event in Pune. The 24-year age gap between the opponents made for interesting tennis news all by itself. The Japanese veteran was attempting to become the oldest player to ever win a WTA title.
Svitolina also beat Andrea Petkovic on her way to the final. The 18-year-old Ukrainian turned pro in 2010.
Nina Bratchikova and Oksana Kalashnikova won the doubles title. They defeated Julia Glushko and Noppawan Lertcheewakarn 6-0, 4-6, 10-8. The winning team was seeded 2nd. Bratchikova was the top seed in singles, but was defeated by Petkovic in the quarterfinals.
Diane, I don't quite understand the WTA 125's. You said she won her first WTA tourney. At one time Allaster said they were Challenger events similar to the ATP Challengers but the ATP does not consider the Challengers a main tour draw. Are we to consider the 125's a main tour draw? I didn't think so until what you said.
ReplyDeleteAnother unrelated thing if they call these 125's why can't they figure a better name for the International tournaments?
I hope I am making sense about the first thing.
We've all been confused about that, but they are now being called tour events (kind of with an understood asterisk). It seems that they fall somewhere between challenger and International.
ReplyDeleteUnder the old tier system, we wouldn't have this confusion.
So I'm not the only one who isn't crazy about the "International" label. It's misleading, in my opinion. But no one has asked for my input. Pity--if someone had, we wouldn't have that egg thing as a logo :)
Well then I am assuming that Mladenovic, in Taipei, won her first singles WTA title. She had already won a doubles in Montreal. I just keep track each of first time single titlists (sp?) and just was thinking whether to put the two (Mladenovic and Svitolina)winners in it-I guess I will after what you answered to me).
ReplyDeleteI hate to copy the ATP but I think their names of events are better. My proposal: Have the Mandatory events (1000 pts) and the Premier 5 events(900 pts) together for the Premier 1000s or Premier Masters and let the top players play 8 of 9 (this is what they already do between the 4 mand and 4 of 5 premier 5s). Then make the lower level Premiers, the Premier 500 (give them 500 pts instead of 470) and the Internationals, the 250's( give them 250 instead of 280 or call them the 280s).
I think the WTA needs to read that; your names are good, and they make sense!
ReplyDeleteSunny-
ReplyDeleteI know that Mladenovic's bio page last week on the WTA site was updated to say she'd won one "WTA singles title" and three "WTA doubles titles," which would be the correct numbers if you include her previous two "regular" tour doubles crowns this year with both wins in Taipei.
Diane and I have been looking with raised eyebrows at this whole this since last week, and it IS all far more confusing, contradictory and seemingly anti-logic than it really should be.