I am penning this at Istanbul airport as we look ahead to our connection to Turin and, having left for the airport in Riyadh at 5am on Sunday morning after two hours sleep, please excuse any dangerous spelling or random musings, though in terms of camel rides that’s meant to be in right here!
By the point you are studying this, we will likely be on the point of carry you Monday’s protection from Day 2 of the ATP Tour Finals.
As we look ahead to our flight a debate is in full swing among the many staff as to who’s the best British sports activities individual, and also you wont be shocked to know that Andy Murray has had just a few mentions! Fingers are beginning to be pointed and lack of sleep would possibly result in some attention-grabbing dialogue however it’s a great way of passing the time.
Whereas the controversy continues I’ll get to the tennis and as an alternative of ready till the ATP Finals have been completed, with our journey to Saudi Arabia and the WTA Finals nonetheless recent in my thoughts, I wished to look again on the WTA’s season-ending event.
It was every week that was topped off with a improbable closing, the youngest WTA Finals showpiece since 2004 when Serena Williams confronted Maria Sharapova, with this yr’s version seeing the youngest winner in 20-year-old Coco Gauff.
Gauff got here from a set right down to beat Olympic Gold Medallist, 22 yr previous Qinwen Zheng in simply over three hours, 3-6 6-4 7-6 (7-2). It was Gauff’s greatest closing and now greatest title since profitable the US Open in 2023. On her solution to the ultimate she beat the highest two gamers on the earth in Aryna Sabalenka who finishes the yr as world No 1 and Iga Swiatek.
Gauff has effectively documented areas in her sport that may breakdown within the forehand and serve, however her psychological energy is second to none, she attracts energy from negativity and is doing issues her method and in her personal time.
In latest instances, she has made some teaching adjustments with the addition of Jean-Christophe Faurel and Matt Daly who specialises in grip adjustments, one thing they’ve already began together with her serve.
And whereas talking to us stay on Sky Sports activities Tennis after the ultimate saying that she is exhausted, she instructed Laura Robson on media day that when the season is lastly over she’s off to a music pageant, and she will’t wait.
Please use Chrome browser for a extra accessible video participant
Coco Gauff breaks the serve of Qinwen Zheng within the deciding set on the WTA Finals
Saudi Arabia transferring in proper route with ladies’s sport
So far as the finals being performed in Saudi Arabia, one thing that generated a whole lot of dialogue and headlines when it was introduced, whereas there may be nonetheless a whole lot of work to be completed earlier than we see the change that’s spoken of occur, it does look as if issues are transferring in the appropriate route in terms of getting ladies engaged in and enjoying sport.
The final 10 days noticed gamers previous and current maintain teaching clinics, make themselves as seen as attainable and see for themselves the place the nation is and the place it desires to go. As all the time it is what occurs when everybody leaves when the event is finished, however it does sound from talking to a varied those who whereas not transferring on the velocity many would love it to alter is occurring and the WTA being there’s a optimistic transfer.
We did get the prospect to discover a little bit and for Laura and I that meant sand dunes, quad bikes and camel using. A 4.30am departure from the resort meant we acquired to see the dawn, then got here the quad bikes and at last the camels.
I used to be planning on giving this half a miss having ridden one years in the past and being pretty unimpressed, however I used to be ushered ahead and earlier than I knew it, I used to be getting on a camel with Laura, as there have been 4 of us and solely three camels. The extra I politely declined the supply of getting on the extra they weren’t taking no for a solution, so then it occurred, the phrases I by no means thought I might hear myself say: ‘Laura can I experience in your camel with you!’
As soon as the season lastly shuts down, which it does for a really temporary period of time, I’ll look again on the yr and forward to 2025 however I believe it is honest to say that in terms of the ladies’s sport it’s in good palms.
Behind the scenes in Riyadh issues have been very busy inside the staff, manufacturing supervisor James walked right into a window, considering it was a door, Patrick spent the week avoiding nuts that he could or is probably not allergic too, and there have been nuts in most issues and Kirsty spent her first week with the tennis staff and we predict we now have gained her over.
Sinner massive favorite for ATP Finals
Whereas we have been away Cam Norrie had a very good finish to the season, reaching the ultimate in Metz, whereas Katie Boulter would wrap up her yr at a career-high rating of twenty third.
Subsequent cease Turin, which is underneath method and for the primary time since 2001 it does not function a member of the Huge Three following Novak Djokovic’s withdrawal. The prize pot is similar as for the WTA Finals, $15.25m (£11.83m) unfold throughout the singles and doubles with an undefeated singles champion strolling away with $4.8m (£3.7m).
Please use Chrome browser for a extra accessible video participant
Highlights of Jannik Sinner vs Alex de Minaur on the ATP Finals
So to predictions and we now have been requested who will make the ultimate in Turin, who will win and our shock package deal.
Nobody is giving something away as to who they’ve chosen, however I can not think about that anybody will stray removed from world No 1 Jannik Sinner.
I hope you’ll be able to be a part of us – we will likely be with you reside each day from Turin, the place the event will function a day and an evening session and, after absolutely admitting they weren’t on it with their predictions in Riyadh, Laura and Tim have promised to step issues up, so be a part of us on Sky Sports activities Tennis.
And as I end this Lennox Lewis has been thrown into our debate in regards to the biggest British sportsperson…
Monday on the Nitto ATP Finals on Sky Sports activities Tennis
Monday’s Order of Play
- 4-time Grand Slam champion Carlos Alcaraz opens in opposition to Casper Ruud at 1pm (GMT) in John Newcombe Group
- New world No 2 Alexander Zverev takes on Andrey Rublev from 7.30pm
Sky Sports activities+ has formally launched and will likely be built-in into Sky TV, streaming service NOW and the Sky Sports activities app, giving Sky Sports activities prospects entry to over 50 per cent extra stay sport this yr at no further value. Discover out extra right here.
