The 2021 Akron WTA Finals Guadalajara begins on Wednesday, persevering with the distinguished legacy of the WTA’s year-ending championship. Listed below are some information and figures from its five-decade historical past and this 12 months’s present version.
ABOUT THE WTA FINALS
50: The 2021 version of the WTA Finals would be the fiftieth staging of the year-end championships.
18: The present spherical robin format of the WTA Finals was re-introduced in 2003. This 12 months will mark the 18th consecutive 12 months utilizing the format.
23: The highest seed has gained the title on the WTA Finals 23 occasions, together with in 2019 when Ashleigh Barty gained the title. World No.2 Aryna Sabalenka is the highest seed in Guadalajara.
8: Solely eight occasions has a participant posted a 3-0 document within the spherical robin stage and superior to win the title. The final time a participant gained the title undefeated was Elina Svitolina in 2018.
2: Within the present format, a participant has superior out of the spherical robin stage with a 1-2 document and gone on to win the title two occasions – Agnieszka Radwanska in 2015, and Dominika Cibulkova in 2016.
On August seventeenth, Anett Kontaveit was on a 5-match dropping streak after dropping to Ons Jabeur in 1R Cincinnati.
Since August seventeenth: Went 26-2, 4 titles, and can surge from No.30 to No.8 on the Porsche Race to the WTA Finals.
On Monday, the Estonian will make her Prime 10 debut. pic.twitter.com/ItzmYiJgw1
— WTA Insider (@WTA_insider) October 31, 2021
ABOUT THE 2021 PARTICIPANTS
6: Six of the eight qualifiers in singles at this 12 months’s WTA Finals are making their singles match debut – Paula Badosa, Anett Kontaveit, Barbora Krejcikova, Aryna Sabalenka, Maria Sakkari and Iga Swiatek.
5: Karolina Pliskova is making her fifth consecutive look within the WTA Finals, returning as essentially the most skilled participant within the draw. Pliskova owns a 7-8 document on the WTA Finals, advancing to the semifinals in her final three appearances
4: For the fourth time in her profession, Garbiñe Muguruza returns to Mexico to compete in a WTA occasion. Muguruza owns a 10-1 document in Mexico, with a 10-match win streak after profitable back-to-back titles in Monterrey in 2018 and 2019.
Learn extra: Street to the WTA Finals: Resurgent Muguruza enjoys milestone season
20: Iga Swiatek is the youngest participant on this 12 months’s singles competitors at 20 years, 170 days outdated (as of the top of the match).
29: At 29 years outdated, 241 days (as of the top of the match), Karolina Pliskova is the oldest participant within the singles draw on the WTA Finals.
2011: The Czech Republic has been represented at each version of the WTA Finals since 2011. The final 10 WTA Finals have included Petra Kvitova (2011-15, 2018-19), Barbora Krejcikova (2021), Karolina Pliskova (2016-19, 2021) and Lucie Safarova (2015).
1998: Previous to the present streak of consecutive appearances from the Czechs, Petra Kvitova’s look on the 2011 WTA Finals was the primary by a Czech girl in singles since 1998 (Jana Novotna).
Learn extra: Street to the WTA Finals: From Roland Garros champ to Prime 10, the rise of Barbora Krejcikova
2016: Barbora Krejcikova certified for the WTA Finals in singles and in doubles as the highest seed alongside her associate Katerina Siniakova. It’s the first time since 2016 {that a} participant certified for the WTA Finals in singles and doubles, when Karolina Pliskova pulled off the feat.
2001: With Garbiñe Muguruza and Paula Badosa each qualifying for the WTA Finals, it’s the first time since 2001 that Spain can have two gamers competing within the occasion. That 12 months, Arantxa Sanchez Vicario and Conchita Martinez (who now coaches Muguruza) each performed.
MATCH STATS & RECORDS
7: Maria Sakkari posted a 7-3 document vs. Prime 10-ranked opponents this 12 months at Tour-level occasions (not together with the Olympics). Earlier than the 2021 season, Sakkari was 10-13 vs. Prime 10 opponents.
17: Paula Badosa led the Tour in clay-court match wins in 2021, posting a 17-3 document on clay. She reached the quarterfinals at Roland Garros, the semifinals at Madrid and Charleston, and gained the title in Belgrade.
Learn extra: Street to the WTA Finals: Badosa emerges as all-court menace in breakout season
2: Barbora Krejcikova is 13-2 in 3-set matches in 2021, along with her solely losses coming to Iga Swiatek (R16 at Rome) and Belinda Bencic (R16 at Olympics).
13: Aryna Sabalenka enters the WTA Finals with a 44-16 document in 2021, with 13 of her 16 losses coming in 3-set matches. Sabalenka is 9-13 in 3-set matches this 12 months.
26: Anett Kontaveit posted a 26-2 document in her closing seven tournaments of the season, profitable 4 titles. Previous to that stretch, in mid-August, the 25-year-old Estonian was 19-13 and sat at No.30 on the Porsche Race to the WTA Finals Leaderboard. Kontaveit gained her fourth title of the season at Cluj-Napoca, overtaking Ons Jabeur on the Leaderboard and staking declare to the ultimate qualification spot for this 12 months’s WTA Finals.
364: Karolina Pliskova enters the WTA Finals with a Tour-leading 364 aces, with Aryna Sabalenka trailing her with 338. Pliskova has led the Tour in aces in 4 of the final six seasons.
Learn extra: Street to the WTA Finals: Pliskova secures fifth straight spot in year-end championships
39-2: Each Barbora Krejcikova and Anett Kontaveit are 39-2 in 2021 when profitable the primary set.
9: Paula Badosa has 9 come-from-behind wins this 12 months, rallying for the win after dropping the primary set. That’s the most come-from-behind wins amongst this 12 months’s WTA Finals individuals. The following-most belongs to Anett Kontaveit (6).
36: Kontaveit owns a Tour-leading 36 match wins on hardcourts this 12 months (36-10).
