WTA YEC Fort Worth 10/31 - 11/7 2022

[ti-amie]

I'm just tuning in and see Iga dropped the first set but is up 2-0 in the second.

[ti-amie]

It seems that after dropping the first set Iga took a 6 1/2 minute break and came back to race to a 4-0 lead and win the second set 6-2.

[Deuce]

It seems that after dropping the first set Iga took a 6 1/2 minute break and came back to race to a 4-0 lead and win the second set 6-2.

Whether she took the break or not, it was a foregone conclusion that she'd come back strong in the 2nd set.
Sabalenka left the court after losing the 2nd set...

[ashkor87]

Not sure how losing to the best player this year makes a player “not ready.”

Unless you mean not ready to be the best player in the world this year

But she didn't lose only to the best player..she lost to everyone!

[ptmcmahon]

Oh duh, that was last lights match. My scoreboard is doing funny things and I thought we were talking about a match today (ie the one on now.) Oops.

[Deuce]

For the fist time in a long time, I see some doubt in Swiatek's eyes and mannerisms.
Could Sabalenka win this match?

[Deuce]

Wow. That was quite surprising. Not only that Sabalenka won, but the way that she ran away with that final set.
All credit to her!

[ponchi101]

Aryna/Garcia. Like we all expected...
Wow. Obviously I couldn't see it, because they did not show a single match this week (they will show the final tomorrow), but the score seems comprehensive.
Let's go, Aryna!

[meganfernandez]

Aryna/Garcia. Like we all expected...
Wow. Obviously I couldn't see it, because they did not show a single match this week (they will show the final tomorrow), but the score seems comprehensive.
Let's go, Aryna!

Happy for her after the close US Open semi vs Iga, when she won the first set as well. This time she closed the deal, and emphatically. I still think Sabalenka is more likely to win a Slam than not... She only 24. Le'ts see if she can win this one. Garcia won their only match this year, in Cincy, three sets.

[ashkor87]

Sabalenka always had what it takes to beat Swiatek, this time she put it together..hope she can do it again

[ptmcmahon]

Aryna/Garcia. Like we all expected...

Checking predictions, I see among the 11 of us that did it, only one person picked either of them in the final....

[meganfernandez]

Sabalenka always had what it takes to beat Swiatek, this time she put it together..hope she can do it again

What is it exactly that beats Swiatek? Relentless depth and power?

[ponchi101]

Sabalenka always had what it takes to beat Swiatek, this time she put it together..hope she can do it again

What is it exactly that beats Swiatek? Relentless depth and power?

Playing semantics here, but consistent depth. Iga is great with angles and positioning, but she is not as powerful as other players. I don't know if power helps that much, because she is very good at redirecting it; a bit like Hingis there.
But sure, relentless depth and power works against 99% of all players. You need to be Serena or Steffi to beat that, because they had it too. And most of the times, more than the other player.

[meganfernandez]

Sabalenka always had what it takes to beat Swiatek, this time she put it together..hope she can do it again

What is it exactly that beats Swiatek? Relentless depth and power?

Playing semantics here, but consistent depth. Iga is great with angles and positioning, but she is not as powerful as other players. I don't know if power helps that much, because she is very good at redirecting it; a bit like Hingis there.
But sure, relentless depth and power works against 99% of all players. You need to be Serena or Steffi to beat that, because they had it too. And most of the times, more than the other player.

Funny, I thought about saying consistent instead of relentless, and I also thought that "relentless depth and power" would beat most players. You also have to serve well, but I think that's also the case for most matches, just taken for granted because it's a cornerstone of tennis. Beyond the direct benefits of a good serve, it helps tip the pressure game in your favor.

I'm sincerely curious what type of game style beats Iga - or can keep up with her enough to earn chances at the end, which is really what you need to do. This year, she has lost to: Barty (but that's probably not a good example), Collins, Ostapenko, Keys, Cornet, Garcia, BHM, Krejcikova and Sabalenka. So you think consistent depth is what best unlocks chances vs Iga?

[ashkor87]

Yes..I believe you have to push her back, not let her come forward to attack ...Collins did that at the AO, Ostapenko did it, Krejcikova did more, came to the net and put away the volleys..Swiatek's shots curl up a bit too much, makes it possible to volley .and, of course, serve big!
Trouble is, even if you do all that,.she may still beat you,! Necessary but not sufficient condition...