Fans in the Singapore Indoor Stadium were looking forward to a close fight in the final match of the WTA Finals, but was treated to a trouncing of Simona Halep and a sweet revenge for Serena with a 6-3 6-0 win. During the post-match press conference yesterday, Serena hoped that her serve will show up today, and she sure showed us some powerful serves.
Although the first set was close with Simona reading Serena’s serves well, the world no. 1 saved her best tennis of the week for this match. With booming serves reaching up to 199km/h, powerful ground strokes that were deep that grazed the tramlines, and attacking Simona”Æs 2nd serve, it proved too much for the Romanian to handle and wilted after losing the first set.
At the post-match press conference, Simona conceded that she felt tired and she had given her all she could, with Serena says that she was “expecting a much better player” today, considering how Simona was playing in the earlier rounds. On their goals for 2015, Simona’s main goal next year will be remaining in the top 10 but Serena declined to reveal her goals, citing that she wanted to avoid disappointment.
Looking forward to not playing tennis the next day and looking forward to going home, Serena was asked which was more important – the prize money or the Dendrobium Pramot x Burana Charming orchid hybrid that would be named after her, it would have to be the latter as she loves flowers. The first time that Singapore names an orchid after a sports personality, Serena hopes that the orchid will be named the ‘Serena Orchid’.
While we will not get to see any of the stars here in Singapore over the next few days as most of them will be going home for their break and holidays, a few of them along with a bevy of other current and former tennis stars which includes; Roger Federer, Andre Agassi, Andy Murray, Daniela Hantuchova to name a few will be back in Singapore at the International Premier Tennis League from 2nd – 4th December 2014.
How I felt after attending the WTA Finals
I’m extremely thankful to the Singapore Tourism Board, for this amazing opportunity to get up close with the amazing WTA players. It has been a long time coming since the Heineken Open days where Singapore has seen tennis stars descending on our shores, and we were certainly treated to a whole week of amazing tennis!
I also relished the opportunity to get to play on the practice courts at the OCBC Arena with Iva Majoli and “Rising Stars” Zarina Diyas, Shelby Rogers and Zheng Saisai, as well as go through the Spanish Drill utilized by professional Spanish players by Savitar Tennis.
Of course I am also glad to be part of this wonderful event, but I feel that a paying spectator might be more worth it. There are fewer restrictions and at least I will be able to ask the players for autographs, act like a total fan boy, and soak up atmosphere to enjoy the tennis matches.
It was a great event and I am heartened at the turn out the WTA Finals in Singapore had, at least 3 days of the event was sold out and attracted many fans from around the world. I also do feel that the fringe events at the fan zone helped to reach out to more people and perhaps inspire kids to follow and pick up the sport!
Story by Cedric “SERENA WON!” Tang
