Aryna Sabalenka, Ons Jabeur, Maria Sakkari and Jessica Pegula were all in action on Monday in Fort Worth on the occasion of the first day of the WTA Finals. All of them are exciting players with great personalities, but for some reason, the organization did not manage to draw a big crowd. Actually, it seems that only 1,000 people turned out.
It is quite difficult to understand why not many fans decided to attend the event. According to American former professional tennis player and current tennis broadcaster and pundit Pam Shiver, families were more focused on celebrating Halloween and the event was advertised only for 2 months.
a couple reasons- Halloween is a huge family holiday here for kids and many people stay home to give candy or take their kids trick or treating. A Texas team is in the World Series and it’s NFL Monday Night football all played tonight. Plus just two months to promote is not a lot
— Pam Shriver (@PHShriver) November 1, 2022
There was a rather unflattering parallel between the crowd that attended the WTA Finals and the one that turned out in a minor tournament in Genoa (a challenger event). Some people on social media also stressed that last year the Finals were played in Guadalajara where people were much more enthusiastic about the tournament.
Crowd at WTA Finals in Fort Worth
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Crowd at ATP Genoa Challenger
Photos: Associated Press/ATP Tennis pic.twitter.com/dcWqBqCHaP
— Chris Goldsmith (@TheTennisTalker) November 1, 2022
Aryna Sabalenka in 2022
LLWWWWWWWL Currently ranked no.7, the Belarussian played her last match on the 31st of October when she beat world no.2 Ons Jabeur 3-6 7-6(5) 7-5 in the round robin in Fort Worth (draw).
At present, during this year the Belarussian has a 31-20 match record. Aryna Sabalenka’s best result of the year was getting to the final in Stuttgart and Hertogenbosch.
Ons Jabeur in 2022
LLWWLWWLWW Now the world no.2 (career-high), Ons played her last match on the 31st of October when she surrendered to world no.7 Aryna Sabalenka 3-6 7-6(5) 7-5 in the round robin in Fort Worth (draw).
At present, during this year Jabeur achieved an overall 46-16 win-loss record. Jabeur conquered 2 titles in 2022 in Madrid and Berlin. Jabeur was the runner-up in Charleston, in Rome, in Wimbledon and at the U.S. Open.
Aryna Sabalenka and Ons Jabeur squared off 4 times. The head to head is 3-1 for Sabalenka. Before, the last time they played, Aryna Sabalenka won 3-6 7-6(5) 7-5 in the round robin in Fort Worth (WTA Finals) on the 31st of October 2022.
Here the video highlights.
Maria Sakkari in 2022
Ranked no.5, Sakkari played her last match on the 31st of October when she beat world no.3 Jessica Pegula 7-6(6) 7-6(4) in the round robin in Fort Worth (draw).
This season Sakkari has a 38-22 win-loss record. Maria Sakkari’s best performance of the current season was reaching the final in St. Petersburg, Indian Wells, Parma and Guadalajara.
Jessica Pegula in 2022
LLLWLWWLWW Ranked no.3 (career-high), Jessica played her last match on the 31st of October when she lost to world no.5 Maria Sakkari 7-6(6) 7-6(4) in the round robin in Fort Worth (draw).
Presently, during this year Pegula has a 42-19 record. Pegula has won 1 title in Guadalajara. Pegula was the runner-up in Madrid.
Maria Sakkari and Jessica Pegula played each other 6 times. The head to head is 4-2 for Sakkari. Previously, the last time they squared off, Maria Sakkari won 7-6(6) 7-6(4) in the round robin in Fort Worth (WTA Finals) on the 31st of October 2022.
You can watch the highlights in the following video.
