I am scripting this at Istanbul airport as we anticipate our connection to Turin and, having left for the airport in Riyadh at 5am on Sunday morning after two hours sleep, please excuse any dangerous spelling or random musings, though in relation to camel rides that’s meant to be in right here!
As we anticipate our flight a debate is in full swing among the many group as to who’s the best British sportsperson, and also you wont be stunned to know that Andy Murray has had a number of mentions!
Fingers are beginning to be pointed and lack of sleep would possibly result in some fascinating dialogue however it’s a great way of passing the time.
Whereas the controversy continues I’ll get to the tennis and as a substitute of ready till the ATP Finals had been completed, with our journey to Saudi Arabia and the WTA Finals nonetheless contemporary in my thoughts, I needed to look again on the WTA’s season-ending match.
It was per week that was topped off with a implausible closing, the youngest WTA Finals showpiece since 2004 when Serena Williams confronted Maria Sharapova, with this yr’s version seeing the youngest winner in 20-year-old Coco Gauff.
Gauff got here from a set right down to beat Olympic Gold Medallist, 22-year-old Qinwen Zheng in simply over three hours, 3-6 6-4 7-6 (7-2). It was Gauff’s greatest closing and now greatest title since profitable the US Open in 2023. On her strategy to the ultimate she beat the highest two gamers on this planet in Aryna Sabalenka, who finishes the yr as world No 1, and Iga Swiatek.
Gauff has well-documented areas in her sport that may breakdown within the forehand and serve, however her psychological energy is second to none, she attracts energy from negativity and is doing issues her means and in her personal time.
In latest instances, she has made some teaching modifications with the addition of Jean-Christophe Faurel and Matt Daly who specialises in grip modifications, one thing they’ve already began together with her serve.
And whereas talking to us reside on Sky Sports activities Tennis after the ultimate saying that she is exhausted, she advised Laura Robson on media day that when the season is lastly over she’s off to a music competition, and she will’t wait.
Please use Chrome browser for a extra accessible video participant
Coco Gauff breaks the serve of Qinwen Zheng within the deciding set on the WTA Finals
Saudi Arabia shifting in proper route with ladies’s sport
So far as the finals being performed in Saudi Arabia, one thing that generated a variety of dialogue and headlines when it was introduced, whereas there’s nonetheless a variety of work to be achieved earlier than we see the change that’s spoken of occur, it does look as if issues are shifting in the appropriate route in relation to getting ladies engaged in and taking part in sport.
The final 10 days noticed gamers previous and current maintain teaching clinics, make themselves as seen as potential and see for themselves the place the nation is and the place it desires to go. As at all times it is what occurs when everybody leaves when the match is completed, but it surely does sound from talking to a varied those that whereas not shifting on the pace many would really like it to alter is occurring and the WTA being there’s a constructive transfer.
We did get the prospect to discover somewhat and for Laura and I that meant sand dunes, quad bikes and camel driving. A 4.30am departure from the lodge meant we acquired to see the dawn, then got here the quad bikes and eventually the camels.
I used to be planning on giving this half a miss having ridden one years in the past and being pretty unimpressed, however I used to be ushered ahead and earlier than I knew it, I used to be getting on a camel with Laura, as there have been 4 of us and solely three camels. The extra I politely declined the supply of getting on the extra they weren’t taking no for a solution, so then it occurred, the phrases I by no means thought I might hear myself say: ‘Laura can I experience in your camel with you!’
Proof of Gigi and Laura having fun with a camel experience…
As soon as the season lastly shuts down, which it does for a really transient period of time, I’ll look again on the yr and forward to 2025 however I feel it is truthful to say that in relation to the ladies’s sport it’s in good fingers.
Behind the scenes in Riyadh issues had been very busy inside the group, manufacturing supervisor James walked right into a window, considering it was a door, Patrick spent the week avoiding nuts that he could or might not be allergic too, and there have been nuts in most issues and Kirsty spent her first week with the tennis group and we expect we’ve received her over.
Gigi and the Sky Sports activities Tennis manufacturing group in Riyadh
Sinner massive favorite for ATP Finals
Whereas we had been away Cam Norrie had a very good finish to the season, reaching the ultimate in Metz, whereas Katie Boulter would wrap up her yr at a career-high rating of twenty third.
Subsequent cease Turin, which is below means and for the primary time since 2001 it would not function a member of the Large Three following Novak Djokovic’s withdrawal. The prize pot is similar as for the WTA Finals, $15.25m (£11.83m) unfold throughout the singles and doubles with an undefeated singles champion strolling away with $4.8m (£3.7m).
Please use Chrome browser for a extra accessible video participant
Highlights of Jannik Sinner vs Alex de Minaur on the ATP Finals
So to predictions and we’ve been requested who will make the ultimate in Turin, who will win and our shock bundle.
Nobody is giving something away as to who they’ve chosen, however I can’t think about that anybody will stray removed from world No 1 Jannik Sinner.
Gigi with Sky Sports activities Tennis specialists Laura Robson and Tim Henman in Saudi Arabia
I hope you’ll be able to be a part of us – we will likely be with you reside day by day from Turin, the place the match will function a day and an evening session and, after totally admitting they weren’t on it with their predictions in Riyadh, Laura and Tim have promised to step issues up, so be a part of us on Sky Sports activities Tennis.
And as I end this Lennox Lewis has been thrown into our debate concerning the best British sportsperson…
Monday on the Nitto ATP Finals on Sky Sports activities Tennis
Monday’s Order of Play
- 4-time Grand Slam champion Carlos Alcaraz opens in opposition to Casper Ruud at 1pm (GMT) in John Newcombe Group
- New world No 2 Alexander Zverev takes on Andrey Rublev from 7.30pm
Sky Sports activities+ has formally launched and will likely be built-in into Sky TV, streaming service NOW and the Sky Sports activities app, giving Sky Sports activities clients entry to over 50 per cent extra reside sport this yr at no further price. Discover out extra right here.
