The tournament’s first year in Shenzhen has been marred by multiple withdrawals, but the event looks to be ramping up with two intriguing semifinals today. In the first, the defending champion, who is on a nine-match winning streak at this event, faces the final player to qualify for this tournament, who has won six of her last seven matches dating back to her title run in Moscow. In the other semifinal, the year-end world No.1 goes up against the year-end world No.2.
Belinda Bencic (7) vs. Elina Svitolina (8)
Svitolina has forgotten how to lose at this event. She’s on a 9-0 streak dating back to 2017, which includes her championship run last year. The slower-paced courts in Shenzhen certainly work to her advantage with many other players in the field possessing more fire power. Bencic went 2-1 in round robin play in her WTA Finals debut, and that’s also her overall record against Svitolina. Belinda claimed their first two meetings, including earlier this year on a hard court in Dubai. Elina prevailed the last time they played, which was in Toronto just a few months ago. Based on Svitolina’s level of play this week, and the competitive spirit she showed yesterday against Sofia Kenin in a match that did not matter as far as her advancement was concerned, I’m banking on Elina’s winning ways to continue.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
| Year | Tournament | Round | Surface | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 |
Toronto
CANADA
|
R16 | Hard |
Svitolina, Elina
6-2 6-4
|
| 2019 |
Dubai
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
|
S | Hard |
Bencic, Belinda
6-2 3-6 7-6(3)
|
| 2014 |
Charleston
USA, SC
|
R16 | Clay |
Bencic, Belinda
6-7(4) 6-4 6-1
|
Ash Barty (1) vs. Karolina Pliskova (2)
Barty will end the year with the No.1 ranking regardless of the result here, but a win for Pliskova would certainly give her momentum heading into 2020. Barty leads their head-to-head 3-2, with their most significant matchup also being their most recent. In Miami back in March of this year, Barty got the win in the championship match, which to that point was Barty’s biggest career title. The court speed here should favor Barty, though I said the same thing yesterday regarding Simona Halep, whom Pliskova overcame in three sets. Even so, the Australian remains the favorite to advance to the championship match in her WTA Finals debut.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
| Year | Tournament | Round | Surface | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 |
Miami
USA, FL
|
F | Hard |
Barty, Ashleigh
7-6(1) 6-3
|
| 2018 |
Us Open
USA, NY
|
R16 | Hard |
Pliskova, Karolina
6-4 6-4
|
| 2017 |
Wuhan
WUHAN, CHINA
|
Q | Hard |
Barty, Ashleigh
4-6 7-6(3) 7-6(2)
|
| 2016 |
Nottingham
NOTTINGHAM, GREAT BRITAIN
|
Q | Grass |
Pliskova, Karolina
7-6(2) 7-6(7)
|
| 2012 |
Nottingham 2
GREAT BRITAIN
|
S | Grass |
Barty, Ashleigh
2-6 6-3 7-6(6)
|
