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RE: week 41 - WTA1000 - Wuhan, China Hard

the addict · Tennis legend

L16:- Tereza Mihalikova (SVK) / Olivia Nicholls (GBR) CR63 (33+30) def Lyudmilla Kichenok (UKR) / Ellen Perez (AUS) CR51 (32+19) 7-5 2-6 10-5

*****

Defended their QF points from last year.
Ostapenko has withdrawn, so in the QF they will play either Noskova and Sramkova [ALTS] or Routliffe and Fernandez (No Dabrowski this week)

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

They seem to have picked up well after a spell in the summer when things didn't go too well for them. Post US Open, and this Asian spell, they have had some decent results.

Do you know, TA (or anyone) if Liv and Tereza plan to continue through the next few weeks in Asia? I guess they still have an outside / mathematical chance of the Tour Finals if they have an amazing result this week, presume that door will close if they don't at least get to the final here (which in itself would be impressive)

the addict · Tennis legend

I can't see them not playing assuming they remain fit. They are tenth in the live race (according to Coric) but are still over 800 points behind Babos and Stephani in eighth place. There are still a few of the top pairs remaining in Wuhan, although they are dropping out rapidly (including Babos/Stephani)

There are still two 500's and some 250's in the far east so I would expect them to play the next three weeks. Entry lists aren't easy to find.

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

the addict wrote:
I can't see them not playing assuming they remain fit. They are tenth in the live race (according to Coric) but are still over 800 points behind Babos and Stephani in eighth place. There are still a few of the top pairs remaining in Wuhan, although they are dropping out rapidly (including Babos/Stephani)

There are still two 500's and some 250's in the far east so I would expect them to play the next three weeks. Entry lists aren't easy to find.

Yeah, I guess Ningbo and then Tokyo as the 500 events and one of Hong Kong, Chennai, Jiujiang would make a nice run in to the end of the season. I am not sure if those last 3 250 events in the final week don't overlap with the Tour Finals, so presume they won't count towards the Race (how can they if they finish after Saudi starts?!) so presume it would probably be Ningbo and Tokyo and then see if they have made Saudi, or come home - it will have been a long stretch away by then.

the addict · Tennis legend

QF:- Tereza Mihalikova (SVK) / Olivia Nicholls (GBR) CR63 (33+30) v Linda Noskova (CZE) / Rebecca Sramkova (SVK) CR205 (79+126) [ALT]

Only the 8th seeds have made the QF, and although Siniakova is still in the draw, none of the teams above Liv and Tereza in the race are left.

A potential SF against Storm Hunter and Katerina Siniakova may be the biggest challenge.

the addict · Tennis legend

QF:- Tereza Mihalikova (SVK) / Olivia Nicholls (GBR) CR63 (33+30) def Linda Noskova (CZE) / Rebecca Sramkova (SVK) CR205 (79+126) [ALT] 7-5 2-6 10-5

Tough SF to come

SF:- Tereza Mihalikova (SVK) / Olivia Nicholls (GBR) CR63 (33+30) v Storm Hunter (AUS) / Katerina Siniakova (CZE) CR75 (74+1)

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

Well done Liv and Tereza, good week for them - semis of a W1000 is great - have they managed that before?

the addict · Tennis legend

JonH comes home wrote:
Well done Liv and Tereza, good week for them - semis of a W1000 is great - have they managed that before?

They reached the final at Indian Wells - their highest point scorer (650) so far, with the Berlin W500 title close behind.

-- Edited by the addict on Friday 10th of October 2025 10:08:14 AM

9vicman · Futures level

JonH comes home wrote:
the addict wrote:
I can't see them not playing assuming they remain fit. They are tenth in the live race (according to Coric) but are still over 800 points behind Babos and Stephani in eighth place. There are still a few of the top pairs remaining in Wuhan, although they are dropping out rapidly (including Babos/Stephani)

There are still two 500's and some 250's in the far east so I would expect them to play the next three weeks. Entry lists aren't easy to find.
Yeah, I guess Ningbo and then Tokyo as the 500 events and one of Hong Kong, Chennai, Jiujiang would make a nice run in to the end of the season. I am not sure if those last 3 250 events in the final week don't overlap with the Tour Finals, so presume they won't count towards the Race (how can they if they finish after Saudi starts?!) so presume it would probably be Ningbo and Tokyo and then see if they have made Saudi, or come home - it will have been a long stretch away by then.

Correct. The last week of the 2025 regular calendar counts towards 2026 Finals. #onlyintennis

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

9vicman wrote:
JonH comes home wrote:
the addict wrote:
I can't see them not playing assuming they remain fit. They are tenth in the live race (according to Coric) but are still over 800 points behind Babos and Stephani in eighth place. There are still a few of the top pairs remaining in Wuhan, although they are dropping out rapidly (including Babos/Stephani)

There are still two 500's and some 250's in the far east so I would expect them to play the next three weeks. Entry lists aren't easy to find.
Yeah, I guess Ningbo and then Tokyo as the 500 events and one of Hong Kong, Chennai, Jiujiang would make a nice run in to the end of the season. I am not sure if those last 3 250 events in the final week don't overlap with the Tour Finals, so presume they won't count towards the Race (how can they if they finish after Saudi starts?!) so presume it would probably be Ningbo and Tokyo and then see if they have made Saudi, or come home - it will have been a long stretch away by then.
Correct. The last week of the 2025 regular calendar counts towards 2026 Finals. #onlyintennis

at least it isn't as contrived as the PGA Tour in Golf, where the Tour Finals are in late summer, and then a series of non counting but Tour approved events take place through the back end of the year...

indiana · Tennis legend

the addict wrote:
JonH comes home wrote:
Well done Liv and Tereza, good week for them - semis of a W1000 is great - have they managed that before?
They reached the final at Indian Wells - their highest point scorer (650) so far, with the Berlin W500 title close behind.

-- Edited by the addict on Friday 10th of October 2025 10:08:14 AM

Good stuff

Their points profile is markedly different this year compared to last year.

Last year they were much more consistent at getting through early rounds and had quite a number of plus 200 points scores but maxed out at 250 for a WTA 250 title.

This year, whilst they have had a surprising number of R1 defeats, they have scored big with these 650 and 500 points weeks and now 390 so far this week, really pushing their rankings up

The upshot has been Liz's CH 23 on 3145 points in June and currently her being live ranked 26 on 2842 points.

the addict · Tennis legend

I think one of the main differences is that they have been unfortunate with drawing seeds or players with top 10 CH's. A poor set of results from the US didn't help either. They didn't pair up until the 2024 grass season so have made great progress since then.

Wuhan has thrown up some surprising results with 5 of the 8 sem-finalists live ranked between 23 and 28. The exceptions are Siniakova WR1 and Hunter WR37 (but CH=1 in 2023) and Danilina WR14. I wouldn't be the least surprised if Siniakova/Hunter win the title beating Danilina/Krunic in the final.

indiana · Tennis legend

the addict wrote:
I think one of the main differences is that they have been unfortunate with drawing seeds or players with top 10 CH's. A poor set of results from the US didn't help either. They didn't pair up until the 2024 grass season so have made great progress since then.

Wuhan has thrown up some surprising results with 5 of the 8 sem-finalists live ranked between 23 and 28. The exceptions are Siniakova WR1 and Hunter WR37 (but CH=1 in 2023) and Danilina WR14. I wouldn't be the least surprised if Siniakova/Hunter win the title beating Danilina/Krunic in the final.

Thanks TA, I hadn't appreciated that they only paired up from last year's grass season. I then see that 5 of Liz's 6 200 plus 2024 points scores were in the remainder of the year, the exception being that WTA 250 title in March which was with Olivia Gadecki.

the addict · Tennis legend

Siniakova showing why she is #1

SF:- Tereza Mihalikova (SVK) / Olivia Nicholls (GBR) CR63 (33+30) lost to Storm Hunter (AUS) / Katerina Siniakova (CZE) CR75 (74+1) 3-6 0-6