The year 2017 is drawing to a close and the WTA tour offered a lot. Amongst others, Caroline Wozniacki, Sloane Stephens and Julia Görges provided positive surprises. It was less pleasing for Angelique Kerber, for example.
Caroline Wozniacki: After a difficult 2016 season, Caroline Wozniacki came back strengthened and played one of the best seasons of her career in 2017. The crowning glory was the title at the WTA finals in Singapore, when she prevailed against opponents such as Venus Williams and world number one Simona Halep in an impressive manner. In addition, he won the title in Tokyo and made final appearances in Doha, Dubai, Miami, Esatbourne, Bastad and Toronto. If the likeable 27-year-old will be able to further improve her final record in the New Year’s Eve, there is not much standing in the way of her returning to the top of the ranking.
Sloane Stephens: In the middle of the year, the young American was in 957th place in the world. A foot injury and a subsequent operation put the 24-year-old out of action for several months. What the lively power package did at the US Open was hardly to be expected. Stephens fought his way into the final with newly won enthusiasm and beat her friend Madison Keys on the way to her first Grand Slam title. The most remarkable thing happens after the match point. Stephens sat down next to Keys and had a funny chat – like two girlfriends in a café. A rare and sensational scene. Two tops for Sloane!
Julias Görges: Bad Oldesloerin is the new First Lady in Germany. At the age of 29, Görges played his way into the hearts of tennis fans and finished in 14th place in the world rankings. Throughout the year, the good serve played at an extremely high level and played in five finals. She won two of them and celebrated her third career title in Moscow. The big coup followed at the final tournament of the Elite Trophy in Zhuhai. With fantastic tennis, she swept one opponent after another off the court and also left her opponent CoCo Vandeweghe no chance – the greatest success of her career. Görges is Germany’s best tennis player for the first time and passed her countrywoman Angelique Kerber. In some tennis forums there was a triumph at a Grand Slam tournament in 2018 by Görges. Not an absurd idea in its present form – we let ourselves be surprised?
Simona Halep: For the Romanian, four words are currently enough: number one in the world ranking list. With outstanding determination and fighting spirit, the 26-year-old advanced to the top of the ranking and is the first Romanian player to do so. With the finals at the French Open and the Masters title in Madrid, Halep played a great clay court season and is rightly at the top. In 2018 we can expect even more titles from her!
Petra Kvitova: Probably the most emotional moment in 2017 was provided by the Czech Petra Kvitova. At the end of 2016, the 27-year-old was badly injured by a burglar in her homeland at her left hand. A knife cut her tendons and tissues – a career end was in the room. But the two-time Grand Slam winner fought her way back and made her tearful and acclaimed comeback at the French Open. Only a few weeks later, she triumphed as a glorious winner at the Birmingham grass court tournament. The quarter-final appearance at the US Open crowned the Czech’s comeback year. It’s nice that Kvitova can continue to thrill with great tennis!
Angelique Kerber: If you think about disappointments in the past season, you can’t avoid Angelique Kerber. After her sensational year of sensation in 2016, the Kieler experienced a raven-black season, coupled with violent low strokes. Kerber completely lost the thread in her play and her self-confidence. Angie suffered ten first-round defeats, including the first-round defeats at the French Open and the US Open. A song didn’t pop out for the ex-number-one. In July, the two-time Grand Slam champion lost ground in the ranking, had to clear the position in the sun and finished the year in 21st place in the world ranking. Recently, the 29-year-old announced her first upheaval: her long-time coach Torben Beltz was replaced by the Belgian Wim Fissette:”It was a difficult decision, but I’m about to start a new chapter in my career with a new coach,”said Kerber. Maybe her new coach will bring her fighting style back to you. Keep your fingers crossed.
Jelena Ostapenko: This name is likely to surprise some in the flop category. Despite Latvia’s sensational French Open triumph last May, Ostapenko is not among the top players of the season. The reason for this is their disrespectful and rude behaviour on the tour. Of course, at the age of 20 Ostapenko is still young, but the image of the small powerhouse is miserable. With public squabbles with her trainer during coaching breaks or discussions with the referees, Ostapenko has created the image of a spoiled brat. And rightly so. Respectful interaction with their opponents and fellow men is also a part of the game at a young age – and other players on the tour manage to do the same. Playfully, it is a pleasure to watch the Latvian woman, but her complaints about unimportant things during the matches unfortunately outweigh her fantastic tennis – still.
Hymnen-Fauxpas: The biggest mistake in 2017 came from the USA’s leaders at the Davis Cup event between Germany and the United States. When the German national anthem sounded, an artist sang the first verse of the national anthem:”Germany, Germany above all” sounded from the loudspeakers. This was an absolute insolence and impudence, the very last thing. It was by far the worst thing that ever happened to me in my life, but especially in the Fed Cup. We have the year 2017 – this kind of thing is happening in America, and it simply must not happen. It is embarrassing and speaks for ignorance, Fed Cup player Andrea Petkovic scolded after the game. Team boss Barbara Rittner and her team tried to fight it with the right verse during the ceremony. This must not happen and is inexcusable.
The final world ranking list of the ladies