Women's Tennis Association 2016

[bangkokbobby]

more pics and video on my blog: 2016 WTA Finals Day One: Simona Halep, Angelique Kerber Open With Wins

Simona Halep


Day one of the 2016 WTA Finals thankfully is over. I always have mixed emotions when two of the players on my current tennis fandom Mt. Rushmore play. In this case it was my top favorite, Madison Keys, taking on Simona Halep (the other two on my current Mt. Rushmore are Petra Kvitova and Maria Sharapova, both of whom, for different reasons, are not in Singapore). So while I applaud Halepeno for her 6-2 6-4 victory, it’s tough to see Maddie open up round robin play in a hole. Although Agnieszka Radwanska won Singapore last year with 2 losses in round robin play, that’s not an ideal plan to try to qualify for the semifinals with multiple losses. What Aga did was the exception, not the rule. Keys must win against Dominika Cibulkova on Tuesday and should root for Simona to beat Angelique Kerber. Angie outlasted Domi in their opening round robin match, 7-6 (5) 2-6 6-3. If Keys and Halep win their matches Tuesday, it opens the possibility of both of them making the semifinals out of the Red Group if Maddie can go on and defeat Kerber on Thursday. Here’s hoping that scenario comes to fruition.





3 SIMONA HALEP d. 6 Madison Keys, 6-2 6-4

w/Martina Navratilova










1 ANGELIQUE KERBER d. 7 Dominika Cibulkova, 7-6 (5) 2-6 6-3

[bangkokbobby]

more pics and video on my blog: 2016 WTA Finals Day Two: Karolina Pliskova, Svetlana Kuznetsova Win Three-Set Battles

Karolina Pliskova


Before I give a few quick thoughts about the two opening White Group matches on day two of the 2016 WTA Finals, I have to comment on the Johanna Konta situation. When I did my WTA Finals preview post, Konta was in. But a last minute tournament win by Svetlana Kuznetsova knocked Jo out of the Singapore draw. All that is fair and square. No issues. The problem I have is that the WTA should have a week in between the final qualifying tournament and the Tour Finals. That way you don’t have a player, in this case Johanna Konta, go through all the media pomp and circumstance…and then have to get airbrushed out of the official photo. This was a bad look that the WTA should not let happen again.

…now…

Sveta showed tremendous heart, and endurance, having flown in from her tournament win in Moscow to take down defending Singapore champion Agnieszka Radwanska in three sets, 7-5 1-6 7-5. I’m not sure if I’m more impressed by Kuznetsova’s resilience or her quick thinking, giving herself a haircut on-court after her ponytail kept getting in her way. Aga won this event with 2 round robin losses last year. It’s probably not a good idea to try that route again. She will need to beat both Garbine Muguruza and Karolina Pliskova. Those two also played a three set seesaw battle. Ultimately, Garbi couldn’t hold on to a 5-2 third set lead as Pliskova won the struggle, 6-2 6-7 (4) 7-5. From a personal fan’s perspective, I’d like to see Karolina and Mugu make the semis from the White Group. They both need wins on Wednesday for that possibility to stay alive.





8 SVETLANA KUZNETSOVA d. 2 Agnieszka Radwanska, 7-5 1-6 7-5








4 KAROLINA PLISKOVA d. 5 Garbine Muguruza, 6-2 6-7 (4) 7-5

[bangkokbobby]

More pics and video on my blog: 2016 WTA Finals Day Three: Madison Keys Wins, Still Alive For Semis; Simona Halep Falls To Kerber

Madison Keys


I’ve made no secret of my hope that Madison Keys and Simona Halep make the semifinals of the 2016 WTA Finals out of the Red Group. Unfortunately, there is only one scenario in which that can happen. Maddie took care of Dominika Cibulkova 6-1 6-4 on day three, but Simona fell to Angelique Kerber, 6-4 6-2. That leaves Angie at 2-0, Simona at 1-1, Maddie at 1-1 and Domi at 0-2 so far in round robin play. On Thursday, Maddie plays Angie while Simona plays Domi. Based on tiebreaker rules, for Halep and Keys to both advance, each has to win their match on Thursday in straight sets. Even though Halep should be favored to beat Cibulkova, Domi plays her very well. That could go three sets. And if Simona does manage to beat Domi in straight sets in Thursday’s first match, Angie will know she needs to at least win one set against Maddie to advance. It will be tough enough for Keys to try to beat world #1 Kerber. If Angie knows she needs to put her foot on the gas, it will be extremely difficult on Maddie. But these are the kind of matches that can be career breakthroughs.





DOUBLES DRAW CEREMONY

Team Bucie (Bethanie Mattek-Sands and Lucie Safarova)


The Chan Sisters (Yung-Jan [Yongran] & Hao-Ching)


Martina Hingis, Sania Mirza and Ekaterina Makarova


1 ANGELIQUE KERBER d. 3 Simona Halep, 6-4 6-2








6 MADISON KEYS d. 7 Dominika Cibulkova, 6-1 6-4

[bangkokbobby]

more pics and video on my blog: 2016 WTA Finals Day Four: Garbine Muguruza Eliminated From Semifinal Contention; Svetlana Kuznetsova First To Qualify

Garbine Muguruza


While I am unabashedly rooting for Madison Keys and Simona Halep to advance to the semifinals from the Red Group at the 2016 WTA Finals, in the White Group it was all about Garbine Muguruza for me. Well, Garbi will make it to the semifinals of the year-end tournament…one day, just not this year. After Agnieszka Radwanska defeated Mugu 7-6 (1) 6-3 and the indefatigable Svetlana Kuznetsova took down Karolina Pliskova, 3-6 6-2 7-6 (6), Garbi cannot advance to the semifinals, regardless of the outcome of her upcoming match on Friday with Sveta. In fact, that match means nothing to either of them. Kuznetsova, 2-0 in round robin play so far, is already guaranteed to make the semis. The winner of the Agnieszka Radwanska v Karolina Pliskova match will join Sveta. As I said on the eve of play starting, Mugu is the new Petra Kvitova. When she is at her best she is nearly unbeatable, but we so rarely see that side of her. She could have won this event or lost all three of her round robin matches. Since Sveta has nothing to play for Friday, I imagine Garbi will win their match and avoid an 0-3 round robin record as Kuznetsova conserves energy for the semifinal round.







8 SVETLANA KUZNETSOVA d. 4 Karolina Pliskova, 3-6 6-2 7-6 (6)








2 AGNIESZKA RADWANSKA d. 5 Garbine Muguruza, 7-6 (1) 6-3

[bangkokbobby]

more pics and video on my blog: 2016 WTA Finals Day Five: Team Bucie Advances To Semifinals In Doubles; Madison Keys Ousted In Singles

Team Bucie


And so ends my 2016 tennis season as a fan. Ok, not really. But it feels like a lot of wind was let out of my balloon as Madison Keys, Simona Halep and Garbine Muguruza all failed to get out of the round robin stage at the 2016 WTA Finals. As a lifelong tennis fan, I’ll still watch the rest of the singles play, but my hardcore rooting interest now turns to doubles. Help me, Team Bucie. You’re my only hope. Oh my, they almost crashed out of Singapore, too. Lucie Safarova and Bethanie Mattek-Sands, aka Team Bucie, had to fight off 3 match points against them to finally eliminate Timea Babos and Yaroslava Shvedova in a super tiebreak 5-7 7-6 (6) [10-2]. I say they are my only fandom hope, but there is another. The Chan Sisters, Hao-Ching and Yung-Jan (Yongran), also play on Friday. But they have a tough task taking on the reunited Team Santina, Sania Mirza and Hall of Famer Martina Hingis. I hope the Chan sisters prevail. However, even if they don’t I still have Team Bucie at least making it to Saturday’s semifinal stage.

I usually focus on the winners in the picture and video section, but since this is the last I’ll see of Maddie and Simona in WTA sanctioned play until January, I’m just going to post their photos along with Team Bucie. I’ll get back to the singles semifinalists Saturday.







THE CHAN SISTERS PHOTOSHOOT










WTA LEGENDS AMBASSADORS

Chris Evert, Martina Navratilova, Mary Pierce, Monica Seles, Iva Majoli and Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario


3 SIMONA HALEP lost to 7 Dominika Cibulkova, 3-6 6-7 (5)






6 MADISON KEYS lost to 1 Angelique Kerber, 3-6 3-6

[bangkokbobby]

more pics and video on my blog: 2016 WTA Finals Day Six: Goodbye, Garbine (and the Chan Sisters, too)

Garbine Muguruza


I bid goodbye already to Madison Keys and Simona Halep, two of my top favorites at the 2016 WTA Finals. They are officially gone, and after day six so is Garbine Muguruza. Well, really she was eliminated from semifinal play a few days ago. Her match against Svetlana Kuznetsova on Friday was meaningless to both of them. No matter the outcome, Sveta is heading to the semis while Mugu is heading home. That Garbi won 3-6 6-0 6-1 just means Kuznetsova wasn’t willing to expend any energy she will need on Saturday. It has been a rough WTA Finals as a fan for me. All of my top favorites are either not here or not advancing. The Chan sisters, Yung-Jan (Yongran) and Hao-Ching, also bowed out to Team Santina, Sania Mirza and Martina Hingis. So as I did yesterday, I will focus the photo and video section on my top favorites and return to the winners after the semifinals have been played. All I have left in Singapore are Lucie Safarova and Bethanie Mattek-Sands. Go Team Bucie!





HAO-CHING CHAN/YUNG-JAN CHAN lost to Sania Mirza/Martina Hingis, 6-7 (10) 5-7




5 GARBINE MUGURUZA d. 8 Svetlana Kuznetsova, 3-6 6-0 6-1

[bangkokbobby]

more pics and video on my blog: 2016 WTA Finals Day Seven: Elena Vesnina/Ekaterina Makarova Advance To Doubles Final, Will Play Team Bucie

Elena Vesnina and Ekaterina Makarova


As all my rooting favorites fell in singles at the 2016 WTA Finals and my attention turned to my two favorite doubles pairs, Team Bucie and the Chan sisters, I overlooked another duo for whom I root, Elena Vesnina and Ekaterina Makarova. With their 3-6 6-2 [10-6] victory over Martina Hingis and Sania Mirza, Kate and Elena will advance to the championship match against Team Bucie, who knocked out top seeded doubles team Caroline Garcia and Kristina Mladenovic, 6-3 7-5. In a match between the reigning US Open champions, Team Bucie, and the reigning Olympic Gold Medalists, Vesnina and Makarova, I’m Team Bucie all the way. However, I will still be happy should Kate and Elena take the title.





3 BETHANIE MATTEK-SANDS/LUCIE SAFAROVA d. 1 Caroline Garcia/Kristina Mladenovic, 6-3 7-5






7 DOMINIKA CIBULKOVA d. 8 Svetlana Kuznetsova, 1-6 7-6 (2) 6-4






1 ANGELIQUE KERBER d. 2 Agnieszka Radwanska, 6-2 6-1






4 EKATERINA MAKAROVA/ELENA VESNINA d. 2 Martina Hingis/Sania Mirza, 3-6 6-2 [10-6]

[bangkokbobby]

more pics and video on my blog: 2016 WTA Finals Day Eight: Ekaterina Makarova and Elena Vesnina Win Doubles Title

Ekaterina Makarova and Elena Vesnina


The 2016 WTA Finals might have disappointed me in singles, but at least the doubles championship featured my favorite duo, Team Bucie, against another of the top pairs, Ekaterina Makarova and Elena Vesnina. So while I was pulling for Team Bucie, a 7-6 (5) 6-3 title victory by Kate and Elena is still cause to celebrate. It was the reigning Olympic women’s doubles Gold Medalists taking out the reigning US Open women’s doubles champions. Right now, women’s doubles is in a good place, even without the Williams sisters playing on any consistent basis outside the Majors. Team Bucie, Makarova/Vesnina, Garcia/Mladenovic and whomever pairs with Sania Mirza and Martina Hingis going forward give the WTA storylines and personalities that I hope they promote more in 2017. There is a lot of exciting tennis happening in doubles!





SINGLES FINAL

7 DOMINIKA CIBULKOVA d. 1 Angelique Kerber, 6-3 6-4










with Monica Seles




DOUBLES FINAL

4 EKATERINA MAKAROVA d. 3 Bethanie Mattek-Sands/Lucie Safarova, 7-6 (5) 6-3

[bangkokbobby]

more pics and video on my blog: Czech Republic Wins 2016 Fed Cup; 3rd Straight Title, 5th Title in 6 Years

Lucie Hradecka, Petra Kvitova, Petr Pala, Barbora Strycova and Karolina Pliskova


Just a quick congratulations to the 2016 Fed Cup Champion Czech Republic. Continuing a historically great run of play, the Czech team captures its 3rd straight Fed Cup title by defeating France 3-2, becoming the first team since Spain (1993-1995) to accomplish that feat. This also marks their 5th title in 6 years and 10th title overall. 2-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova has been a member of all 5 recent wins. She now has the most titles in the history of the Czech Republic and is tied for 4th overall with Spaniards Conchita Martinez and Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario. They trail only Americans Chris Evert (8), Billie Jean King (7) and Rosie Casals (6). I have a soft spot for Petra. She is on my current Mount Rushmore of favorite players along with Madison Keys, Simona Halep and Maria Sharapova. I always wish Kvitova every good…so long as she isn’t playing Maddie! That said, the heroics in this final came from Karolina Pliskova and Barbora Strycova. Pliskova won an epic 16-14 third set for the ages on day 1 over France’s Kristina Mladenovic. After Caroline Garcia of France defeated Kvitova and Pliskova in singles, Barbora Strycova saved the day for the Czech Republic by first beating Alize Cornet and then teaming with Pliskova to take down the ace doubles team of Mladenovic and Garcia to clinch the title at 3 rubbers to 2 from down 2-1 in rubbers.

RESULTS

DAY ONE

KAROLINA PLISKOVA (CZE) d. Kristina Mladenovic (FRA), 3-6 6-4 16-14

CAROLINE GARCIA (FRA) d. Petra Kvitova, 7-6 (6) 6-3

DAY TWO

CAROLINE GARCIA (FRA) d. Karolina Pliskova (CZE), 6-3 3-6 6-3

BARBORA STRYCOVA (CZE) d. Alize Cornet (FRA), 6-2 7-6 (4)

PLISKOVA/STRYCOVA (CZE) d. Garcia/Mladenovic, 7-5 7-5







2016 FED CUP CHAMPIONS – CZECH REPUBLIC

[bangkokbobby]

more pics and video on my blog: Fairways and Forehands 2016 WTA and LPGA Top 12 Year In Review: #12 Madison Keys and Minjee Lee

Madison Keys


For the fourth annual edition of my WTA and LPGA money list countdown I will focus on the dynamic dozen from each tour, the top 12 on the money lists. For the WTA, singles, doubles and mixed are combined for total earnings. Here are the #12 players for 2016: Madison Keys (WTA) and Minjee Lee (LPGA).

MADISON KEYS (WTA)

2016 Prize Money: $2,311,022

Titles: Aegon Classic Birmingham

It was a season of growth for my favorite active tennis player, Madison Keys. 12th on the money list, the 21-year old American reached #7 in the world in singles, her highest ranking to date and finished the season at #8. Along the way she won the Aegon Classic Birmingham, her second career singles title (both on grass, where her big serve is most lethal). She also played into the second week of all four Majors, although she did not reach a quarter or semi as she did in 2015. She played for the bronze medal at the Olympics, coming up just short against Petra Kvitova. However, in my opinion Maddie’s best result was in Rome at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia where she beat Kvitova, Andrea Petkovic and Garbine Muguruza, all in straight sets, en route to a final against Serena where she took then-#1 Williams to a first set tiebreak. It was that clay court performance that reminded me of the potential Maddie has to be a future Major winner. She also showed tremendous heart in the 3rd round of the US Open, coming back from 1-5 down in the 3rd set to defeat Naomi Osaka. Add in a runner-up finish at Rogers Cup and Keys is moving in the right direction. If there is one aspect of her game to tighten up, it’s her second serve. Sure, her kick serve is a problem for lower ranked players but against Angelique Kerber and Simona Halep, they adjust their return position and jump all over it. Serena William built the most formidable service game in the history of women’s tennis not only because of her booming first serves, but also her solid second serve. If Keys improves her second serve over the off-season, she could…check that, she will…reach the top 5 in 2017.





Minjee Lee


MINJEE LEE (LPGA)

2016 Prize Money: $1,213,902

Titles: Lotte Championship, Blue Bay LPGA

If you ask Minjee Lee about her shot of the year, no doubt she would point to her hole in one on a par 4 at the Kia Classic. It was only the 2nd ever par 4 hole in one in LPGA history, both coming this year. Historic or not, that wasn’t my favorite Minjee shot this year. Let me say, I am not dimishing her achievement as some have, noting the moved up tee on the 275 yard 16th hole at Aviara. Length is not my issue. After all, the other par 4 hole in one, by Ha Na Jang, was on a 218 yard par 4. No, it’s the significance of Lee’s eagle on the 13th hole in the final round of the Lotte Championship. It was part of a back 9 30 which helped propel the Aussie from 5 back at the start of the day to her second career victory and first of the season. She would go on to add a second title at the Blue Bay LPGA. Even though she didn’t medal, a tie for 7th at the Summer Olympics in Rio was a great performance. If there was one letdown on Minjee’s year it’s that she didn’t have the Major results to match her talent. With 3 career regular LPGA wins in two years, look for Major success as the next step in her development.





MINJEE LEE












MADISON KEYS

[bangkokbobby]

more pics and video on my blog: Fairways and Forehands 2016 WTA and LPGA Top 12 Year In Review: #11 Johanna Konta and Haru Nomura

Johanna Konta


For the fourth annual edition of my WTA and LPGA money list countdown I will focus on the dynamic dozen from each tour, the top 12 on the money lists. For the WTA, singles, doubles and mixed are combined for total earnings. Here are the #11 players for 2016: Johanna Konta (WTA) and Haru Nomura (LPGA).

JOHANNA KONTA (WTA)

2016 Prize Money: $2,363,882

Titles: Bank of the West Classic

Awards: WTA Most Improved Player

Ok, I promise this is the last time I rant about this…well, until the next time. I’m still smarting about what happened to Johanna Konta at the 2016 WTA Finals, being part of all the pre-tourney celebrations only to get passed at the last moment by Svetlana Kuznetsova for the 8th and final spot in the event. The WTA needs to know who the qualifiers are before they go through all the pomp and circumstance in Singapore. Anyway…that aside, Jo showed signs of the player she could be in 2015, particularly at the US Open. So in 2016 it was no surprise to see her reach two finals, in Stanford and Beijing, winning the former…the Bank of the West Classic in a tough 3-setter against future Hall of Famer Venus Williams. It was Johanna’s WTA singles title. She came up just short at the China Open, capturing the runner-up trophy to Agnieszka Radwanska. Konta became the first British woman in 30 years to crack the WTA top 10 in singles. She was as high as #9 but finished the year at #10. Jo was named the WTA’s Most Improved Player. Overall, it was a breakthrough season for Johanna Konta…just please no more health scares like her collapse on court at the 2016 US Open.



Haru Nomura


HARU NOMURA (LPGA)

2016 Prize Money: $1,228,295

Titles: ISPS Handa Women’s Australian Open, Swinging Skirts LPGA Classic

One of my favorite moments from Haru Nomura’s fantastic 2016 LPGA season came after she won the ISPS Handa Women’s Australian Open. Asked whether she thought she was on the same level as world #1 Lydia Ko…and after some hesitation…Haru gave a tongue in cheek answer that she was better! She was just joking…well, at least I think she was joking. Look, she’s not Lydia…but by April, after a victory at the Swinging Skirts LPGA Classic, she joined Lydia and Ha Na Jang as early season multiple winners in 2016 before April was over. Those were also the first LPGA tournament victories for Haru Nomura. Riding a strong putter, Haru always finished in the money this season, save for a withdrawal at Volvik before finishing her first round. She was also the first Japanese player to win on the LPGA since Mika Miyazato at the 2012 Safeway Classic. Ai Miyazato also won in 2012…twice in fact (Lotte Championship, Walmart NW Arkansas Championship). While Haru is Japanese (her father) and represents Japan, I do want to add that her mother is Korean. That’s right folks, this Japanese golf star has Seoul!



HARU NOMURA










JOHANNA KONTA

[bangkokbobby]

more pics and video on my blog: Fairways and Forehands 2016 WTA and LPGA Top 12 Year In Review: #10 Svetlana Kuznetsova and So Yeon Ryu

Svetlana Kuznetsova


For the fourth annual edition of my WTA and LPGA money list countdown I will focus on the dynamic dozen from each tour, the top 12 on the money lists. For the WTA, singles, doubles and mixed are combined for total earnings. Here are the #10 players for 2016: Svetlana Kuznetsova (WTA) and So Yeon Ryu (LPGA).

SVETLANA KUZNETSOVA (WTA)

2016 Prize Money: $2,396,479

Titles: Apia International Sydney, Kremlin Cup

Once again, I want to say this is the last time I will comment on the Johanna Konta/Svetlana Kuznetsova situation at the 2016 WTA Finals…until the next time. I just want to say that my last countdown post covering Johanna Konta, wherein I was critical of the WTA, was in no way meant to be critical of Svetlana Kuznetsova. Sveta did nothing wrong. Having qualifying run last minute through the Kremlin Cup was how the tour set it up. Kuznetsova had to win the title in Moscow to get into Singapore…and she did just that. That is clutch from the 2-time Major winner in both singles and doubles. Then she hopped on a plane to rush to Singapore, where she played a couple of inspired matches through mounting exhaustion to get to the semifinal round. At 31, Sveta is still a threat to anybody in a draw, even Serena. Kuznetsova beat then-world #1 Williams en route to a runner-up finish in Miami. Add in a title at the Apia International and the 33-time WTA champion (17 singles/16 doubles) continues to add to a career that should one day earn her a spot in Newport, Rhode Island at the International Tennis Hall of Fame.



So Yeon Ryu


SO YEON RYU (LPGA)

2016 Prize Money: $1,259,485

I was not looking forward to this post. It’s because I am so fond of So Yeon Ryu. She is such a great player on the course while carrying herself with grace off the course. So Yeon holds a soft spot in my heart. But I can’t “keep it real”, as the kids say, without addressing the elephant in the room. Of the 24 players I will cover in my WTA/LPGA countdown, Ryu is only one without a title on her main tour in 2016. She is a tremendously talented player who often puts herself in positions to win…then something happens. Just this past Sunday at the CME Group Tour Championship she was tied with eventual winner Charley Hull coming down the stretch…and then found the one spot in the bunker on 17 to torpedo her chances. Make no mistake, as great as she continues to be…after all, she is still in the top 10 of the money list, Rolex Rankings, POY points, etc…if she could finish half of her winning opportunities, she would be a perennial top 3 Player of the Year contender. Top 10 in 4 of 5 LPGA Majors in 2016…and T11 in the other one…6th in scoring average…So Yeon Ryu is special. Outside of all the wonderful things that happened with Ariya Jutanugarn, one of the brightest moment for me as a fan in 2016 was seeing In-Kyung Kim return to the LPGA winner’s circle. Next year, I hope So Yeon Ryu does the same.



SO YEON RYU




with Minjee Lee, Se Ri Pak, Hee-Young Park and Mi-Jung Hur




SVETLANA KUZNETSOVA

[bangkokbobby]

more pics and video on my blog: Fairways and Forehands 2016 WTA and LPGA Top 12 Year In Review: #9 Petra Kvitova and Brittany Lang

Petra Kvitova


For the fourth annual edition of my WTA and LPGA money list countdown I will focus on the dynamic dozen from each tour, the top 12 on the money lists. For the WTA, singles, doubles and mixed are combined for total earnings. Here are the #9 players for 2016: Petra Kvitova (WTA) and Brittany Lang (LPGA).

PETRA KVITOVA (WTA)

2016 Prize Money: $2,500,516

Titles: Wuhan Open, WTA Elite Trophy

Olympics: Bronze Medal (Singles)

Team Titles: Fed Cup Champions (Czech Republic)

Talk about finishing the year on a roll! 2016 was shaping up to be…dare I say it…a lost year for Petra Kvitova. Myself and others have raved about her pure talent season after season, waiting for that breakthrough, that ascendency, to the top of the WTA mountain. For most of 2016, it seemed Petra was going backwards. A 2-time Wimbledon champion, she was out in the 2nd round this year at both Wimbledon and the Australian Open, and only to the 3rd round at Roland Garros. Then, slowly Kvitova started to catch some momentum, starting with a Bronze Medal finish at the Olympics. She finally reached the second week of a Major at the US Open. Then she really caught fire at the end of the year, winning in Wuhan and Zhuhai while posting a runner-up in Luxembourg. Unfortunately, her hot play came too late to qualify for Singapore…so hopefully Petra starts 2017 the way she finished 2016. If she does…and she claims being #1 in the world is still a goal…Kvitova still has time to ascend to the top of the WTA mountain. In Wuhan, she beat world #1 Angelique Kerber, then dominated Johanna Konta, Simona Halep and Singapore champion Dominika Cibulkova. The 6-1 6-1 trouncing she put on Domi in the Wuhan final was a reminder of why so many people say that when Petra is on, she is the best.



Brittany Lang


BRITTANY LANG (LPGA)

2016 Prize Money: $1,259,787

Titles: US Women’s Open

Hey, look at this! An American made my LPGA countdown list! How did that happen?! I’m being facetious, of course. It happened because Brittany Lang scored a career highlight by winning the US Women’s Open. If I’m being completely honest, overall her season probably does not rate top 10 against other players. After all, she missed the cut in 2 of 5 Majors and was not in contention in 2 of the remaining 3. But it is that last one that gave her the $810,000 winner’s purse boost that propelled her into the #9 position on the year-end money list. Bottom line is, I want to see more Americans winning on the LPGA, not just two titleists like in 2016 (Brittany Lang and Lexi Thompson). It is good for the tour to have stateside success. My perfect world would have a great mix of American and International winners. I want to see everybody be great. I also understand that’s not always how reality works out. Why did the Americans have such a down year (outside of the International Crown) in 2016? Are we just being outworked by the competition? Maybe. I don’t really know. I hear people complain that the American players spend more time on social media than practicing. Possibly, but I will say I follow Ariya Jutanugarn and other top players like Lydia Ko and In-Gee Chun on social media and they are just as active online, if not more so. Is it a transition period where our big guns, Stacy Lewis, Cristie Kerr and Lexi Thompson, regressed a little or possibly just had an off-year? I think they had decent years. Maybe it’s just that every year more great players come on tour. As those players develop into champions, it gets tougher and tougher to be top 10. Ariya, In-Gee, Brooke Henderson, Hana Jang, Haru Nomura and Minjee Lee…those are all players not in the top 12 last year on the official money list. Add in the fact that those are all players 24 or younger, and it’s not going to get any easier for anybody to crack the top 12 in the near future, American or otherwise. That said, I hope more than one American makes the LPGA side of my countdown next year. Otherwise, I might have to do like the American media and adopt Canadian Brooke Henderson.



BRITTANY LANG






with Lydia Ko






PETRA KVITOVA

[bangkokbobby]

more pics and video on my blog: Fairways and Forehands 2016 WTA and LPGA Top 12 Year In Review: #8 Victoria Azarenka and Ha-Na Jang

Victoria Azarenka


For the fourth annual edition of my WTA and LPGA money list countdown I will focus on the dynamic dozen from each tour, the top 12 on the money lists. For the WTA, singles, doubles and mixed are combined for total earnings. Here are the #8 players for 2016: Victoria Azarenka (WTA) and Ha-Na Jang (LPGA).

VICTORIA AZARENKA (WTA)

2016 Prize Money: $2,651,080

Titles: Brisbane International, BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells, Miami Open

Victoria Azarenka’s 2016 WTA season was like a shooting star burning a path across the sky…so brilliant and bright, then gone far too quickly. However, despite some injuries that nagged her after Miami, it wasn’t a diminishing body that stopped her high level of play. In fact, it was an addition to her body that forced her to call it a year on July 15th. That addition is another human being growing in her womb. Following Kim Clijsters and Evonne Goolagong before her, Vika is stepping away from the game to have her first child with plans on returning in 2017. Without question, having a child is far more important for Azarenka…but what a 2016 it was shaping up to be! She won Brisbane in her first tournament of the year, then pulled off the tough Indian Wells-Miami double, those two tournaments being among the most important non-Major or year-end finals tournaments. Clijsters and Steffi Graf are the only other female players to have pulled off the Indian Wells-Miami double in the same year (although to be fair, Serena Williams skipped Indian Wells for many years). In the finals of her three tournament wins, she beat then #1 Serena, current #1 Angelique Kerber and Svetlana Kuznetsova. After Miami, Vika barely played much as injuries limited her success. She retired in her first match at Roland Garros with a knee injury and withdrew from Wimbledon. She basically played healthy for 4 months and still is #8 on this list. Imagine if she had played a full healthy schedule. Instead of Angie, it might have been the year of Vika.



Ha-Na Jang


HA-NA JANG (LPGA)

2016 Prize Money: $1,383,575

Titles: Coates Golf Championship, HSBC Women’s Champions, Fubon LPGA Taiwan Championship

This should have been a year of celebration unfettered by controversy for Ha-Na Jang. After being a stellar player for years on the KLPGA, she earned her first 3 LPGA wins in 2016, was top 5 in Player of the Year points, top 5 in scoring average, hit a par-4 hole in one and led the LPGA in percentage of rounds under par. But celebration was the last thing she needed as her dance after winning HSBC caused a home country controversy. This was after Jang’s father accidentally dropped a 15 pound luggage bag down an escalator, hitting fellow Korean star In-Gee Chun and causing her not only to miss tournaments but slid Ha-Na into the final spot on the Korean Olympic women’s golf team. Compounding the issue was an apology from Jang’s father that was seen as lacking. Look, I hope that’s in the past. In-Gee went to the Olympics and won the Vare Trophy for LPGA scoring average. Leave Ha-Na Jang alone…and for crying out loud, let the lady dance, do cartwheels or anything else when she wins, which I fully expect her to do a lot more. She’s not Tonya Harding. In-Gee isn’t Nancy Kerrigan. And Jang’s dad isn’t Shane Stant. I love watching Ha-Na Jang play golf. Her spirit is infectious. What occurred was not her fault. Accidents happen. How people accept or don’t accept apologies is their choice. So long as the apology is sincere, that’s all she needed to do.



HA-NA JANG












VICTORIA AZARENKA

[bangkokbobby]

more pics and video on my blog: Fairways and Forehands 2016 WTA and LPGA Top 12 Year In Review: #7 Garbine Muguruza and Anna Nordqvist

Garbine Muguruza


For the fourth annual edition of my WTA and LPGA money list countdown I will focus on the dynamic dozen from each tour, the top 12 on the money lists. For the WTA, singles, doubles and mixed are combined for total earnings. Here are the #7 players for 2016: Garbine Muguruza (WTA) and Anna Nordqvist (LPGA).

GARBINE MUGURUZA (WTA)

2016 Prize Money: $3,903,388

Titles: Roland Garros

After showing tremendous promise the two years prior to this season…winner her first title in 2014, winning another title and finishing runner-up at Wimbledon in 2015…Garbine Muguruza cashed in on her potential this year with her first Major title, Roland Garros 2016. Not only did she win in Paris, she avenged (somewhat) her loss to Serena Williams in the final of Wimbledon 2015. Let me also say that there are lots of Serena losses where her opponent played well, but it was really errors from Williams that told the story. Not this time. Garbine, who had beaten Serena soundly at Roland Garros 2014, played championship level tennis and controlled the Roland Garros 2016 final. It was the kind of performance that has people in the tennis world envisioning Mugu as a future world #1. The first women’s Spanish singles Major winner since Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario, Garbi ascended to world #2 with the title. But then…like some others before her, she slumped after her maiden Major. While she did qualify for Singapore, the rest of her year was a little bit of a letdown. I’ve compared what happened to Mugu to what happened to Li Na after she won her first Major. Li Na, who was closer to the end of her career than Garbi is now, recovered and went on to win another Major at the 2014 Australian Open. The Chinese star was 31 when she won in Melbourne. I have no doubt the 23-year old Garbine Muguruza will bounce back and fulfill her vast potential.







Anna Nordqvist


ANNA NORDQVIST (LPGA)

2016 Prize Money: $1,424,685

Titles: ShopRite LPGA Classic

Luggage-gate with In-Gee Chun & Ha Na Jang. The Singapore qualifying kerfuffle with Johanna Konta and Svetlana Kuznetsova. Apparently, it’s controversy after controversy for this year’s countdown. And now we have the club grounding by Anna Nordqvist in a hazard during the playoff of the 2016 US Women’s Open. I just felt sick for Anna in how this unfolded. To lose out on her chance at a 2nd Major title that way…let’s just move on. Maybe it’s just me, but is there a more unassuming superstar on the LPGA than Anna Nordqvist? It just doesn’t seem that I hear her name come up when people discuss the very best players on tour. Yet all she has done the past three years (2014-2016) is win at least one event, grab 7 top 10s in Majors and finish in the top 10 of the money list each season. She successfully defended her ShopRite LPGA Classic title. Not only that, Anna did so in record fashion with a 17-under 1 shot victory. Winning should always be the highlight of a season, and it is in Nordvist’s case, but I also look at her runner-up result at the US Women’s Open as another highlight despite the how it ended. The tour leader in greens in regulation, Anna just keeps playing great golf. Hopefully, we will all hear her name come up more if she has a 2017 season like the last three.







ANNA NORDQVIST













GARBINE MUGURUZA