AKRON WTA Finals
Guadalajara Draw Released
The draws for the 2021 AKRON WTA Finals Guadalajara were made Monday. Please find below the results of the draw as well as the order of play for Wednesday and quick quotes from all singles players reacting to the draw.
DRAW RESULTS
Chichén Itzá – Singles
(1) Aryna Sabalenka (Belarus)
(4) Maria Sakkari (Greece)
(5) Iga Swiatek (Poland)
(7) Paula Badosa (Spain)
Teotihuacán – Singles
(2) Barbora Krejcikova (Czech Republic)
(3) Karolina Pliskova (Czech Republic)
(6) Garbiñe Muguruza (Spain)
(8) Anett Kontaveit (Estonia)
Tenochtitlán – Doubles
(2) Shuko Aoyama (Japan) & Ena Shibahara (Japan)
(4) Nicole Melichar-Martinez (USA) & Demi Schuurs (Netherlands)
(5) Samantha Stosur (Australia) & Zhang Shuai (China)
(7) Daria Jurak (Croatia) & Andreja Klepac (Slovenia)
El Tajín – Doubles
(1) Barbora Krejcikova (Czech Republic) & Katerina Siniakova (Czech Republic)
(3) Hsieh Su-Wei (Chinese Taipei) & Elise Mertens (Belgium)
(6) Alexa Guarachi (Chile) & Desirae Krawczyk (USA)
(8) Sharon Fichman (Canada) & Giuliana Olmos (Mexico)
ORDER OF PLAY
Wednesday, November 10
Start 2:00 pm
(2) Barbora Krejcikova (Czech Republic) vs (8) Anett Kontaveit (Estonia)
(2) Shuko Aoyama (Japan) & Ena Shibahara (Japan) vc (7) Daria Jurak (Croatia) & Andreja Klepac (Slovenia)
Start 7:00 pm
Opening Ceremony
Start 7:30 pm
(3) Karolina Pliskova (Czech Republic) vs (6) Garbiñe Muguruza (Spain)
(4) Nicole Melichar-Martinez (USA) & Demi Schuurs (Netherlands) vs (5) Samantha Stosur (Australia) & Zhang Shuai (China)
Singles Media Day – Tuesday
A reminder, singles All Access Hour will be Tuesday, with Zoom press conferences for the singles players beginning at the following times:
10.00am – Garbiñe Muguruza
11.00am – Iga Swiatek
11.30am – Karolina Pliskova
12.00pm – Maria Sakkari
1.00pm – Paula Badosa
1.30pm – Anett Kontaveit
2.30pm – Aryna Sabalenka
3.00pm – Barbora Krejcikova
Doubles Media Availability
The following doubles teams will be available for interviews Tuesday afternoon. If interested in speaking to any of these teams, please complete the Interview Request Form by 10:00 am Tuesday. The remaining teams will be available on Wednesday.
(1) Barbora Krejcikova (Czech Republic) & Katerina Siniakova (Czech Republic)
(2) Shuko Aoyama (Japan) & Ena Shibahara (Japan)
(4) Nicole Melichar-Martinez (USA) & Demi Schuurs (Netherlands)
(5) Samantha Stosur (Australia) & Zhang Shuai (China)
(7) Daria Jurak (Croatia) & Andreja Klepac (Slovenia)
DRAW REACTION QUICK QUOTES
Aryna Sabalenka: “Well, actually I wasn’t really thinking about the draw because I was so nervous (about the ceremony). I didn’t want to fail there. I was really nervous. Anyway, it’s going to be a tough draw because every player is really strong and it’s going to be a great battle. So I’m really just looking forward for this tournament.”
Barbora Krejcikova: “It’s the WTA Finals. Every single person that is playing here is an incredible athlete. I mean, it’s going to be really, really difficult. But it’s WTA Finals. It’s the last tournament of the year. We are all here in really good form. I am looking forward to battle against these wonderful girls. I think it’s going to be a lot of a fun and a really nice tournament.”
Karolina Pliskova: “I think there is really no easy player here. Against some I might have a better record, but I think it’s going to be difficult either way. With Barbora, we didn’t play for many years, but of course she had a great year and from the same country, there is maybe some extra pressure. With Garbiñe, we played a lot. I have actually a really good record, but also we haven’t played I think in the last two years. I think she also had a great year. And with Anett, also we didn’t play for a couple years, but she’s on a really great run. I think it’s going to be the toughest part of the group.”
Maria Sakkari: “I expected that it’s going to be a tough draw because all eight players are very tough. It’s going to be very challenging and I’m just going to enjoy whoever I play against.”
Iga Swiatek: “Well, I think it doesn’t really matter who I’m going to play. Just being here is a great experience. It’s my first time here so for sure I can play with low expectations. Every opponent is tough here. I know my head-to-head against some of the players in my group is not positive, but I’m going to have the chance to change that.”
Garbiñe Muguruza: “Well I think I got a very tough group. Very strong players. Big serves. Big shots. Very aggressive style of game. Either group is going to be hard. I’m just excited that I’m going to be playing in Mexico and hopefully they are going to cheer for me. I mean the whole goal of the round robin is to go through. It doesn’t really matter which order, just do a good job and manage to to the semifinals.”
Paula Badosa: “Well I think it’s a tough group, but as expected. Everyone is tough here. It’s going to be really tough matches. I’m looking forward to it. I think I’m prepared for everything that will come. No expectations. I want to play match by match and try to enjoy it. Let’s see how it goes.”
Anett Kontaveit: “Of course everybody here, we’re all top eight, it’s such a tough draw. Every match is going to be very difficult. I’m really looking forward to competing and looking forward to the tournament to start.”
