The WTA Finals—the season-ending championship of women's tennis—begins on Monday, October 20 in Singapore. Throughout eight days, we'll take a closer look at the seasons put forth so far by the eight singles competitors.
It's been six years since Ana Ivanovic won her lone Grand Slam title at the French Open and reached No. 1. Now at 26, she’s worked consistently and diligently after her subsequent fall from grace, and faced numerous doubts and frustrations, but the payoff has slowly been coming. She’s had a banner 2014 thus far with four titles starting with Auckland in January.
This has been a year of great consistency for Ivanovic, marred only by Grand Slam disappointments. Losses to Eugenie Bouchard (at the Australian Open) and Sabine Lisicki (at Wimbledon) couldn’t be called disastrous, but others were cringe-worthy. Ivanovic also had wins over Maria Sharapova, Caroline Wozniacki, fellow Serb and rival Jelena Jankovic, Simona Halep and even Serena Williams. Players compete in the hope of winning titles; taking four in 2014 was an excellent achievement.
Can it get any better than beating Serena Williams at a Grand Slam, the way Ivanovic did in the fourth round of the Australian Open?
The big U.S. Open some expected of Ivanovic fizzled out when she lost to No. 42 Karolina Pliskova in the second round, 7-5, 6-4.
Nobody has been more professional and diligent than Ivanovic. She’s slowly built her game back up, and a win in Singapore would be an entirely fitting tribute to her faith and her work ethic. But this is reality, not a glitzy Hollywood movie that must have a happy ending. Ivanovic would take a giant step in her resurrection were she to win Singapore, but make no mistake, it’s a tough assignment even though the surface and forgiving format suits her game.
WTA Finals Previews
Sunday, October 12: Agnieszka Radwanska
Monday, October 13: Ana Ivanovic
Tuesday, October 14: Caroline Wozniacki
Wednesday, October 15: Eugenie Bouchard
Thursday, October 16: Maria Sharapova
Friday, October 17: Petra Kvitova
Saturday, October 18: Serena Williams
Sunday, October 19: Simona Halep