The WTA Final is a yearly event for the top eight female tennis pros in the scene. Find out who has the higher chance of winning the Singles Final here.
This year’s women’s professional tennis circuit is nearly coming to a close, with the final match of the traditional year-ender finally approaching. On October 27, only one among the top eight players in the world will remain at the top and claim the 2018 WTA Finals trophy in Singapore.
While not in the same prestige and tournament format as the four Grand Slam tournaments, this year’s WTA Finals Singles will offer a total of US$7 million in prize money. Who, though, will end up taking the largest slice of the cake?
Left with only one group match yet to be played by each competitor, these three women are most likely to become the 2018 WTA Finals Singles champion according to three online sportsbooks.
Angelique Kerber
Ranked second in the WTA rankings and the highest in the group—world number one Simona Halep was out injured—one would be surprised why Germany’s Angelique Kerber is only the third favorite among a pool of eight players.
The German has won only seven out of 13 matches she played, barely a 50 percent winning record, after she claimed the Wimbledon title. Included in those numbers was her current 1-1 record at the WTA Finals, which leaves her at third place.
Will this prove to be the biggest point of this 2+ hour tussle?
Naomi Osaka looked well on her way to a hold to 4-3*. Instead, Kerber comes back to break. #WTAFinalsSG
LIVE BLOG: https://t.co/Zkx7pRmkM4 pic.twitter.com/Kfpiz8dvyR
— WTA Insider (@WTA_insider) October 24, 2018
She would need to win her final Red Group match against still-unbeaten Sloane Stephens, and another 1-1 against Caroline Wozniacki to beat winless Naomi Osaka, just for a chance to reach the semifinal.
As of October 25, online sportsbooks bet365, William Hill, and BetStars all priced the odds of Kerber winning the tournament at 4/1.
Elina Svitolina
Tournament sixth seed Elina Svitolina saw her stock rise after two games in the White Group. Pre-tournament predictions placed the Ukranian as low as the eight best in the tournament. After all, analysts found her overall game wanting. She also failed to secure a single win against fellow WTA Finals attendees.
That drought started in February, but it has now ended in Singapore. Svitolina stands as the clear favorite to go through the semifinal with a perfect 2-0 record, losing only a single set and holding the tournament-best 59.09 percentage of games won.
.@ElinaSvitolina makes it back to back wins at the @WTAFinalsSG!
Gets the better of Pliskova 6-3, 2-6, 6-3! pic.twitter.com/ToXGE2op9H
— WTA (@WTA) October 23, 2018
William Hill and BetStars offered 10/3 odds for a Svitolina outright win, while both bet365 has her victory at 7/2. These odds made it clear that Svitolina is one of the major favorites to claim the cash prize, especially when comparing the numbers with another leading candidate.
Sloane Stephens
And the candidate previously mentioned is Sloane Stephens from the United States, whose odds are close, if not the same, as Svitolina’s.
William Hill has the same odds for Stephens at 10/3. Meanwhile, bet365 and BetStars have the American at 7/2 and 10/3.
Stephens, according to analysts, could not have wished for a better condition before entering the tourney. Not only was the hardcourt her advantage, but she also managed a 66-win percentage in this year against her current competition.
.@SloaneStephens finishes the match in style as she makes it back to back wins at the @WTAFinalsSG!
Defeats Bertens 7-6(4), 2-6, 6-3! pic.twitter.com/x3tlBfFMTG
— WTA (@WTA) October 24, 2018
In addition, Stephens was leading her table unbeaten with 54.24 percent of games won, the best in her group.
Catch the knockout stages of the 2018 WTA Finals at the Singapore Indoor Stadium in Kalang, Singapore. The Singles Semifinal will start on October 27 and the Finals the day after.
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