Venus Williams is the winner of the inaugural WTA Elite Trophy beating Karolina Pliskova in straight sets in a high quality and exciting final: 7-5, 7-6. With this victory, Williams moves up to 7 in the world rankings, her highest ranking since February 2011. In her pre-tournament press conference, Venus acknowledged, “One of the reasons that I’m here is so that way I can go to the Top 10 and have a great start for the next year.” This is her 48th title, second only to her sister Serena among WTA active players. The American has enjoyed her seven weeks in the Asia: in addition to this crown, she won the title in Wuhan and was a semifinalist in Hong Kong.
The rising star from the Czech Republic started the year ranked 24, moving steadily up with a title in Prague and reaching the finals in Stanford, Birmingham, Dubai, and Sydney. Pliskova, twenty-three years old, achieved her highest ranking of 7 in August 2015. Her ranking slipped to 13, as she did not defend her all her points from a successful fall of 2014. With the Zhuhai finalist points, the Czech moves up two places in the rankings to 11.
In their first ever meeting, Venus got off to a quick start, going up 4-1, taking balls early, dictating play and dominating the rallies. Pliskova was shaky on serve, but came back from 0-40 to hold in the second game helped by three Williams’ errors and an ace. She also fought back in the sixth game from 15-40 saving four breakpoints to get the score to 4-2. Pliskova, who led the tournament in aces and winners, then won the next two games to love, six errors by Williams and two winners for the Czech, leveling the match at 4-4. Each player held serve in the next two games from 15-30 down with big serves. The thirty-five year-old American saved a breakpoint in the next game and then broke at 15 aided by four Pliskova errors to take the set. Williams was the more aggressive player creating 10 breakpoint chances (but only took advantage of two) and came up with big serves when she needed them. Her first serve percentage was 71 compared to 58% for Karolina. This was low for the Czech as her serve is her major weapon.
Each player started the second set well. In their first two service games, Williams at love and Pliskova dropped only three points. The Czech broke Williams’ serve in the fifth game with two forehand winners and two errors by the American. Venus broke back in the eighth game and each player held serve in the next four games to force a tiebreak. The set featured tremendous shot making under pressure by each player. Williams closed out the championship winning a very tight tiebreak 7-6.
In the post match interview, Pliskova commented, “I think it was a great week even though I didn’t make it today. I really enjoyed the week and Venus played (an) unbelievable match today. I am proud of myself, how I played this week and hope to play more matches like this.”
Williams, gracious and happy, said, “I am so excited to win the first trophy, and first congratulations to Karolina, who had no losses this week. I know it is disappointing because she played so well, she deserved to win as well and I was really lucky to win at the end there.”
The WTA Elite Trophy will be played in Zhuhai through 2019 and will again feature twelve players ranked between 9 and 19 and one wildcard. The tournament was a big success. All of the players praised the tournament and the event drew big crowds. Venus summed it up her on-court, post match interview, “All the players were welcome here, and the enthusiasm here, and to see every seat filled for every match – that’s all the players want.”
