As much as Serena Williams has been missed on the WTA tour, her absence has produced some intriguing plot lines and scintillating rivalries that could continue into next season. Baseline will countdown the favorite rivalries of 2017—and here’s hoping we see more chapters in 2018.
See No. 4 here.
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Head-to-head record: Garcia leads 2-1
Two of the WTA’s breakout stars in 2017 played twice in a month—at the China Open and WTA Championships—and displayed games that are striking similar. Garcia won both matches, but the margins were slim, as Svitolina displayed similarly excellent court movement and a backhand as dynamic as Garcia’s. If Garcia has an advantage so far, it’s in aggression and court positioning, but one gets the feeling Svitolina will make the necessary adjustments the next time they play.