So there we are: another season of women’s tennis is in the books! Thanks for you company - ta-ra.
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Phew! What a match that was! Svitolina flings herself to the floor, hugs Stephens who comes over, cries, hugs her coach, and ha crowned the best season of her life with a phenomenal display of guts, desire and skill. She could have gone away when Stephens cruised through the first set, but picked it up, played more aggressively, and imposed her game to decisive effect. Great stuff.
ELINA SVITOLINA IS THE WTA FINALS CHAMPION!
*Stephens 6-3 2-6 2-6 Svitolina (*denotes server)
Serving to stay in it, Stephens sends a forehand long and follows it with a double fault! Svitolina is two points away! But Stephens is a serious competitor, and pounds a forehand winner down the line, then elicits a netted backhand. But Stephens shanks a forehand just wide, and Svitolina has championship point! AND STEPHENS GOES WIDE ON THE BACKHAND! SVITOLINA HAS DONE IT! THE PERFORMANCE OF HER LIFE AND THE MOMENT OF HER LIFE!
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Stephens 6-3 2-6 2-5 Svitolina* (*denotes server)
I really do not know anymore. Now Stephens piles in to 0-15, survives a challenge, and almost gets back after being wrongfooted ... but Svitolina is there! But so is Stephens, up to 15-30, only to miss with that trusty backhand slice down the line; Svitolina has a decent edge in the longer points, and as long as Stephens hits down the middle that’ll be key in deciding the match. That’s what takes us to 40-30, and what a backhand pass clinches the consolidation! Svitolina is one game away from lifting the Billie-Jean!
*Stephens 6-3 2-6 2-4 Svitolina (*denotes server)
Svitolina’s coach says she’s playing too flat from outside the baseline, and to copy Stephens’ shape then go flat from inside. He points out that Stephens isn’t enjoying the physical points - the question is whether, if Stephens finds her angles again, she can make them thus. But it’s Svitolina imposing her will, and she breaks to 15! What moxie!
Stephens 6-3 2-6 2-3 Svitolina* (*denotes server)
Has Stephens found a second wind? She gets to 0-30 which makes it six points in a row, but Svitolina produces a brilliant serve, comes to the net to clean up ... and somehow Stephens reads it, blocking back a winner! Three break-back points! Svitolina saves one, but Stephens pounds her out thereafter, even though she’s made to hit two overheads when she’d have thought one will suffice. Back on serve!
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*Stephens 6-3 2-6 1-3 Svitolina (*denotes server)
Stephens tells her coach that she’s in the match and he tells her to be aggressive, but has she got the gas? She holds to love, and how badly she needed that. That’s her first service-game won since the second one of the second get.
Stephens 6-3 2-6 0-3 Svitolina* (*denotes server)
Stephens hasn’t won a game since God was a lad, but she finds something and forces her way to 0-30. Svitolina, though, responds with a confident serve-volley asnd will know that she’s living the moments of her life right now. This is the beauty of sport right here. She goes long with a forehand; that’s two break-points; but Stephens can’t find any consistency, going long with a backhand and then sent out wide and cleaned up. Here comes a deuce that Stephens will not want to play; the ball is coming off her racket much slower now, and her angles are far more basic. But she works another break point only to go wide with a forehand, losing a challenge in pursuit of a rest, and then after looking to have won the next rally, a favourable net-cord gives Svitolina a point for consolidation ... which she can’t take! It’s hard not to think this is the tournament right here ... so Svitolina punishes an ace down the middle! This is brilliantly tense stuff! And what a punishing rally comes next, won by Stephens placing a backhand right onto the sideline! But she feels it, trying a drop in the next point to end things quickly ... but not in her favour, Svitolina finding a volley when the follow-up offers it, then another running in ti play an overhead! Stephens challenges, but it’s in hope, and that’s six games in a row for Svitolina! What a comeback this is!
*Stephens 6-3 2-6 0-2 Svitolina (*denotes server)
Stephens is hitting down the middle far more often than before, and that’s allowing Svitolina to compete in the rallies. There’s also far more pop on her groundstrokes, so almost every point is a ruckus, and Stephens nets a forehand to turn 40-30 into deuce. And a double-fault gives Svitolina break-point, but she tightens and gifts a backhand wide then forehand into the net; she doesn’t know she can win on this stage, and we can see it. Still, though, Stephens is missing, and a backhand into the net gives us a third deuce, making this the longest game of the match, and then she clouts a forehand long and then some! AND LOOK AT THAT! Stephens wallops a forehand into the net cord and Svitolina races in to flick a winner across the net! That’s six games in a row for her, and she absolutely loves it!
Stephens 6-3 2-6 0-1 Svitolina* (*denotes server)
Svitolina’s coach says she found a good balance between being physical and aggressive, telling her to be positive and making it mentally tough. Stephens is told to step in on the short balls, mix up her serve, wrest back momentum, dig deep, and other such cliches. Her leg, which is taped, is fine, she confirms. She’s also told not to change to a down the line angle with no footwork ... but here we go!
A booming forehand winner down the line opens the set for Stephens, who leapt and skipped her way to the line before it. Svitolina, though, responds - a backhand winner then a service winner pound down the smack, and it’s soon four games in a row. The switch in this match can be ascribed, precisely, to the easy forehand Stephens missed halfway through the second set, and Svitolina leads for the first time in the match.
*Stephens 6-3 2-6 Svitolina (*denotes server)
Stephens is struggling now, on the clock limit with every serve - this is great from Svitolina, who played the longest match of the tournament last night. She’s no longer able to work the angles and finds herself 30-40 down, but saves the set with a topspin forehand down the line. Still, is Svitolina now the favourite? She might just be, all the more so when at advantage, Stephens goes wide with a backhand; two more points to likely lose the set anyway. AND LOSE THE SET SHE DOES! TWO ERRORS FROM STEPHENS, AND WE’VE GOT OURSELVES A DECIDER!
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Stephens 6-3 2-5 Svitolina* (*denotes server)
Stephens has been really sloppy this set, and how well she plays to get 0-30 proves it. But Svitolina responds, outlasting her in a rally and smacking down a serve out wide that’s too good. Stephens then goes wide with a forehand - she’s crowded and has no room to play the shot she fancies - but gets deuce when Svitolina nets. It’s Stephens who looks wearier now, but when Svitolina earns game-point, Stephens does brilliantly to crack a forehand winner after various other near-winners came back at her. But it doesn’t matter! Svitolina cleans up from deuce and is one more hold away from forcing a decider!
*Stephens 6-3 2-4 Svitolina (*denotes server)
Stephens is back into it now, easing to 30-0 ... or is she, two unforced errors then a backhand which catches the net and sets up a winner presenting Svitolina with break point. Stephens dominates it, but Svitolina hustles hard to stay in it, and when Stephens misses three chances to find a winner, a backhand cross-court gives us our third break in a row!
Stephens 6-3 2-3 Svitolina* (*denotes server)
Stephens nudges ahead in the game and a body-serve and inside-out forehand from the corner tell us that Svitolina means it. But so does Stephens! Just when it looks like she’s been outmanoeuvred, she spins into a forehand winner for 30-all! Svitolina then tightens and cedes a break-point, but she hangs in the next rally and waits out the error; Stephens’ level has dropped this set as Svitolina’s has picked up, so we’re seeing a fairer fight. But as I type that, Stephens plays a belter, anticipating a chance to come in, then picking right to caress a forehand volley along the net ... only to go long with the forehand, next point! This is another pivotal game right here! And Stephens wins it! A forehand into the net, a forehand long, and Svitolina will have to shake the disappointment of a wasted chance, and the suspicion that Stephens can raise it beyond her when she needs to.
*Stephens 6-3 1-3 Svitolina (*denotes server)
This is more even now, and at 15-0, Svitolina steps in to power a forehand winner into the corner. Then Stephens has a backhand called wide, but she challenges to discover that it was a winner, only to miss a forehand having done the hard work and with the whole court open. We end up at deuce, and Stephens then nets a backhand; break point, and she takes it when Stephens goes wide on the forehand! How expensive that earlier carelessness has turned out to be!
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Stephens 6-3 1-2 Svitolina* (*denotes server)
Svitolina is holding serve nicely now, polishing off this one to 15.
“No contest, I do believe,” emails Andrew Benton. “Stephens will give no space to Svitolina to play her own way. Stephens has got that bit of extra experience and power to draw on.”
Yes, I agree with that. When Stephens plays well, not many can live with the smoothness of her angles and power.
*Stephens 6-3 1-1 Svitolina (*denotes server)
Svitolina is pushing now, sending a decent approach to the corner. She nets the volley, but that’s still the right idea, and when she comes in next point, makes it count with an excellent forehand volley on the retreat. I’m not quite sure what the point of a hard court this slow is, but anyway, Stephens then shows how to approach and come in - she’s makes the phases look so easy - and holds to 30.
Stephens 6-3 0-1 Svitolina* (*denotes server)
The main difference here has been the ability of Stephens to control the T, sending Svitolina from yenne-velt to alla schwarze yoren. But at 30-15 she gets Stephens moving, winning a tremendous rally with a drop, and that’s just the aggressive start she’d have been after.
*Stephens 6-3 Svitolina (*denotes server)
Sam Smith says that on one side of the net there’s a player trying to make it happen ad on the other one letting it happen, but Stephens ups the pressure on herself by going wide with a backhand. But another long rally, controlled by Stephens, is resolved by that backhand slice down the line - Svitolina can’t find a way to move her around, so is fighting for every point, and it’s soon 40-15. Stephens then goes long with a backhand, but Svitolina nets and that’s the first set. Svitolina nips off for a bathroom break, and needs to come back with an idea.
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Stephens 5-3 Svitolina* (*denotes server)
Apparently Chris Evert was saying that she’d like to see a Stephens-Halep rivalry develop, which would be a lot of fun. Though, “for me”, I think that Muguruza could be better than both. Anyway, Svitolina grafts through a hold to 15, but must now break to save the first set.
*Stephens 5-2 Svitolina (*denotes server)
At 15-all, Svitlolina produces a brilliant forehand winner, cross-court from the T; can she build on it? She gets a second serve to clamber into, but the sluggishness of the court ruins her; a backhand error follows, but an excellent one finishes the next point and forces a painful stretch at the same time; can Svitolina break back? Not yet, Stephens finding the forehand she needs ... only to then net a backhand. But look at this! Both players are playing pretty well now, and Stephens saves the second break-point with a big forehand to finish a fine rally, then cleans up quickly thereafter.
Stephens 4-2 Svitolina* (*denotes server)
Svitolina could really use a lay the smack down kind of hold, and whacks an approach that has ok depth but isa bit too central, and Stephens sends a backhand pass spinning into the corner; an error follows, and the pressure is on. So Stephens finds a backhand slice that passes low over the next and forces another error; three break points. Come on Elina! She saves two, the second with a forehand that moves Stephens outside the tramlines, opening space for a backhand winner - that’s how she needs to play - and then wins in a long rally. Well played her. And Svitolina quickly pushes through deuce and advantage to keep the deficit manageable.
*Stephens 4-1 Svitolina (*denotes server)
Svitolina crashes a forehand that allows her to dictate the first point of the game, but Stephens’ engine makes her fight for it, a strange kind of backhand overhead dropping just in. But Stephens flows through the next two points, finding forehand angles that send her girl well outside the lines. Svitolina fights back well in the next point, hurrying Stephens ... who cleans up easily thereafter.
Is it just me who can’t help but sing this whenever they hear the name Elina Svitolina?
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Stephens 3-1 Svitolina* (*denotes server)
This coaching innovation is fantastic: we hear Svitolina’s coach telling her to calm down, breathe, go after the ball when it’s in the court, hang in there when it’s out, and attack the second serve. She’s being too passive and letting Stephens pick her moments. The thing is, Stephens is just better - that’s really what we’re seeing here - and that’s why it’s Svitolina scurrying from hither to yon whole Stephens chills at the T. It’s almost like watching a good squash player play a novice, but we get to 30-all and then Stephens gets sloppy - Svitolina is on the board, and will feel much the better for it.
*Stephens 3-0 Svitolina (*denotes server)
Svitolina gets ahead in the game but then goes long with a backhand to evident fury. She’s working her way into things though, getting to 15-30 ... so Stephens punishes a serve down the T then cleans up with a forehand. Still, though, at 40-30 a long rally and for the first time today, Svitolina steps into her groundstrokes, then a fine, deep return earns her break-back point. So Stephens comes in off a moderate approach and puts her first volley down the middle, but Svitolina’s pass isn’t good enough; she guesses right and puts away the winner. This is getting going now though! Svitolina wins another long rally - that’s what it’ll take for her - only to net a backhand slice! Already this looks like a pivotal game, and Stephens’s forehand takes care of the deuce point and her backhand the advantage one. She’s able to open her shoulders and override the slowness of the court in a way that Svitolina just can’t.
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Stephens 2-0 Svitolina* (*denotes server)
Quickly, it’s 0-30, a Stephens forehand followed by a double fault. Svitolina just can’t handle that forehand at the moment, and has no scope to shorten the points, forced by another monstrous forehand to net before going long. A break to love - Svitolina looks seriously nervous out there.
*Stephens 1-0 Svitolina (*denotes server)
Both players are quickly into stride: Stephens is finding good length and Svitolina isn’t waiting to be asked on the forehand side. At 30-15, though, Stephens works it, moving Svitolina about and then sending a backhand slice down the line, for a winner! Oh yes! And she follows it up with another great point - she’s dictating, and Svitolina is struggling to find an answer. The court is so slow that i’d not be surprised to see a break next up.
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So the slog of the year comes down to this:
We’re about ready to go...
Chris Evert is getting ready to perform the toss, while Svitolina swings her racket, Muguruza-style - but, if we’re real, nowhere near as intimidating. Svitolina wins the toss and will receive - my guess is that she’s seeking a cheap break if Stephens isn’t grooved immediately.
Svitolina has won three of four finals this term, but what she’s got here is a whole nother level of pressure. She looks chuffed as you like as she walks about though, not at all like someone wondering if she can do it. Stephens, on the other hand, looks more pensive, earbuds in and such. Off they go for the photo.
Right then, we’re just about ready. Incidentally, Nigel Sears is wearing a horrific blazer, navy with grey check.
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I love Martina. Here’s something I wrote about her in Joy of Six: cool sports stars.
Stephens said she was nervous yesterday, which Martina says shows strength: you can only resolve something once yo’ve acknowledged it.
Svitolina, though, is coming. She’s had a great year, and this is a just reward for her effort and improvement. If she believes she can do it, she can do it, but will need to be aggressive because otherwise she’s waiting to lose.
Martina explains that this court is ridiculously slow, which is one of the reasons the two players left are great movers and athletes. Stephens is just so silky - if she gets warm, forget about it.
She’s such a brilliant, passionate, articulate advocate for the game. Clare Balding and Martina Navratilova reckon the Davis Cup and the Fed Cup could merge, then play footage of King saying Navratilova is the greatest all-round singles and doubles player ever. That’s a tricky one, of course – I wonder if she’d handle Serena on hard – but on grass would be the greatest thing anyone’s ever seen.
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Billie-Jean King is talking about having one association for men and women, which sounds like a good idea to me.
What an absolute joy that is, a body who grasp that to grow a sport – and just because – you need to make footage freely available.
Here’s what happened yesterday:
I say all of that, and yet: if Stephens plays well tonight, today, this morning, this can’t really be close. She’s by far the better player and has won a Slam so knows what it takes ... except just yesterday, Pliskova bagelled her in the first set. If she can’t get going early here, there’s no guarantee that Svitolina, who is in the form of her life and will see this as the chance of her life, will let her off the hook.
Preamble
Who’s gonna win? A question that has pretty much defined sport since Goliath offered out allcomers. Yeah, plenty of important social stuff has become relevant since, but that single element is behind the whole damn lot of it.
And there is no iteration staying truer to that baseline than women’s tennis. Currently, there is a slew of brilliant players able to beat or lose to each other, with very little warning, titles decided on form not class, which is why we’ve got Sloane Stephens playing Elina Svitolina in today’s season-ender. To get here, they’ve respectively beaten Osaka, Bertens, Kerber and Pliskova; Kvitova, Pliskova, Wozniacki and Bertens, which tells us they’re looking good – as as such, so are we.
Start: 11.30am GMT
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