WTA Finals Preview

The WTA Finals in Singapore will have a slightly different flavor this year as a few younger players will be making their debut and we see return of former no. 1's Ivanovic and Wozniacki.  Everyone in the field has contested a slam final at one point or another, 6 of them this year (Aussie Open finalists Cibulkova and the now retired Li the only two not in the field).  We also won't see Azarenka because of her injuries.  But here's a few stats on 2015's octet:

1) Serena Williams (USA) - 7146 pts - 48-7 record with 6 titles including the US Open - 8 previous appearances (25-5 record, '01,'09,'12,'13 champion)

2) Maria Sharapova (RUS) - 6680 pts - 48-11 record with 4 titles including the French Open - 6 previous appearances (17-8 record, '04 champion)

3) Petra Kvitova (CZE) - 5597 pts - 40-14 record with 3 titles including Wimbledon - 3 previous appearances (7-3 record, '11 champion)

4) Simona Halep (ROU) - 5403 pts - 43-14 record with 2 titles - 1st Finals appearance

5) Eugenie Bouchard (CAN) - 4506 pts - 45-20 record with 1 title - 1st Finals appearance

6) Agnieszka Radwanska (POL) - 4441 pts - 46-19 record with 1 title - 5 previous appearances (5-7 record, best result '12 semis)

7) Ana Ivanovic (SRB) - 4390 pts - 56-16 record with 4 titles - 2 previous appearance (2-4 record, best result '07 semis)

8) Caroline Wozniacki (DEN) - 4045 pts - 46-18 record with 1 title - 3 previous appearances (6-6 record, best result '10 finalist)

-Kerber and Makarova are the alternates
-The 8 contestants hail from 8 different countries
-The '13 contestants were Serena (W), Li (F), Kvitova and Jankovic (SF), Azarenka, Radwanska, Errani, and Kerber
-Only Serena, Kvitova, and Radwanska made it both this year and last. Sharapova qualified but was injured.  Ivanovic last made the Finals in '08, Wozniacki in '11.

Groups:
Red - Serena, Halep, Bouchard, Ivanovic
White - Sharapova, Kvitova, Radwanska, Wozniacki

The White appears to be the much more difficult as Halep, Bouchard, and Ivanovic have all seen their results taper off at the end of the year while Kvitova and Wozniacki have seen better form.  This tournament is Serena's to lose and I think she has no chance a failing to get out of that group.  She has lost in Ivanovic this year but would likely need 2 losses to knock her out.  Kvitova is the wild card here and she probably has the game to beat Serena but will she get to that point and will she be able to beat the world no. 1?  Wozniacki is also an interesting case given her better form in the US Open series etc, which leaves the White Group very tough to call.  I don't think Radwanska is much a threat and may well go 0-3; she hasn't seemed to play well against the best players this year. In the Red Group, Halep and Bouchard are dangerous but I think they are tiring out after long seasons, and it will be tough to bring the A game required to beat Serena and Ivanovic (and each other) day in day out here.

I will go with Serena, Ivanovic, Sharapova, and Kvitova to advance to the semis but won't count out Wozniacki.  I'll pick Serena as the two-time defending champion over Kvitova in the final in what could be a classic match.

The no. 1 ranking is "sort of" up for grabs but Serena would have to lose relatively early and Sharapova would need to go deep, so it's possible but not likely.