#FUF: The Singapore Saga
| Elite 8: Peace & War |
We’re edging towards the grand finale of the WTA Finals in Singapore. After a grueling round robin stage that saw World No. 1 Serena Williams receive a tasty bagel at the hands of Simona Halep, Eugenie Bouchard collect the fewest number of games since Jelena Jankovic’s YEC showing in 2010, and Caroline Wozniacki sweep her group, the semifinals are now set. While on-court antics ignited the Singapore crowds with tennis that ranged from the abysmal to the awesome, it was off where the Elite 8 played pretty spectacular mind games. Some gave simple praise – see Serena William’s congratulating BFF Wozniacki after her three-set victory over Sharapova – others resorted to straight up “bribery.”
For context, Wozniacki’s straight-set win over Petra Kvitova allowed good friend Agnieszka Radwanska to advance, even after her own loss to Sharapova:
The round robin may have been messy, but the ladies’ social media game was clean cut.
| Serena Secures Year-End No.1 |
It was a tightly fought race this week between the Tour’s leading superstars. Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova each entered Singapore with a chance to clinch the year-end No.1 ranking. In order for Sharapova to claim the top spot she needed to win within two matches from Williams, and with it the WTA Finals crown. Even after two round robin losses to Wozniacki and Kvitova, Sharapova was still in contention for the race, provided she beat Radwanska in straight sets. However as a 5-1 lead in the second set slipped, so too did Sharapova’s hopes of clinching the year-end ranking for the first time in her career. It’s the fourth time Williams has finished the year in pole position (2002, 2009, 2013, and 2014). It also marks the first time since Steffi Graf in 1996 for the top ranked player to hold her ranking throughout the entire season. Williams picked up six tour titles in 2014: Brisbane, Miami, Rome, Stanford, Cincinnati, and the US Open, which saw her tie legends Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova for 18 Grand Slam titles.
| The Spawn of Djokovic |
World No.1 Novak Djokovic announced the birth of his first child with his wife Jelena on social media this Wednesday. Floods of congratulations poured in from fans and players alike, most notably from his Serbian compatriots, Ana Ivanovic and Jelena Jankovic.
What are your thoughts on Stefan as a name? I was personally hoping for Novak Jr.
| The Real WTA |
If a picture could say a thousand words, it would surely be this one. Pre-draw ceremony, a sneaky snap of the Top 8 was taken backstage. Thanks to Maria Sharapova’s wicked sense of humor we all got a chance to see ‘the real WTA’. Let’s analyze the photo in detail:
l. Petra and Simona actually engaging in conversation, BFF’s Serena and Caroline sharing a social media moment.
c. Aga and Ana using the go-to ‘this-is-awkward-so-I’ll-use-my-phone’ move.
r. Ice queens Sharapova and Bouchard sidelined with no friends – quelle surprise. Genie actively looks like she’s trying to avoid Sharapova and well, everyone else.
In a hilarious turn of events the tennis press reenacted the photo. Do you think they captured each player well?
The Tennis Island 
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