I forgot to mention that I'm also a big fan of 18-year-old superstar Mirra Andreeva. She was ranked 5th in the WTA for singles. Due to some recent losses she may fall down the rankings soon. She's a very emotional player and can lose her composure sometimes. The last match she lost at the Wuhan Open she was visibly shaken and crying during the match when a much older and experienced 37-year-old Laura Siegemund wasn't going away easily. Mirra Andreeva won a tough first set tiebreak 7-6 (4) but she started to cry and have a panic attack when Siegemund made many tough shots. Andreeva ended up losing in three sets 7-6 (4), 3-6, 3-6.

Part of why I love the WTA so much. I love it more than the ATP. Is the passion and pure emotion to win.
But it can backfire and cause you to fall apart also. You have to keep it together to actually win the match.
There's too much talent in the WTA. If you have an off day or lose your emotions you're going to lose.

This was Mirra Andreeva falling apart against Laura Siegemund just a week ago at the Wuhan Open. I felt so bad for her.
I'm using a YouTube short video. Full length videos are too long and don't just highlight the key moments she lost her emotions.
Watching her come apart like that made me cry! Because she could've easily beaten Siegemund in straight sets if she stayed focused.



Mirra Andreeva and Diana Shnaider are my favorite doubles team. But a lot like her singles play. Mirra Andreeva must keep her emotions in check.
That's a dream team doubles team. Two young superstars. They should win a lot more. Often times they lose to more experienced doubles teams.

I'd like to have just one WTA player I completely fall in love with and support. There are just so many to like. I'm loyal to Aryna Sabalenka.
But I love tennis too much. I can see the players that give it all they have physically and emotionally. I always admire that passion to win.

I was going to make my own red/bold WTA discussion thread later on. But I already have this one going. I just had a couple things to add. Latest WTA rankings were just released. Not much changed other than Ekaterina Alexandrova moving into the Top 10. Jessica Pegula moved up to 5 after her excellent 2025 Wuhan Open performance (reaching the Final).

Mirra Andreeva only fell one spot from 5 to 6. That's not too bad. I want to cheer for Mirra Andreeva so badly because I hate to see her emotionally fall apart like she did last week. She's 18 years old and will win many Grand Slam Titles in the future. She's got the talent to do so. I really do want to become Mirra Andreeva's biggest fan but I just can't do so right now. I'm emotionally conflicted. There are some other players I just believe in more moving forward.

Laura Siegemund, the 37-year-old that upset Mirra Andreeva last week, had the highest WTA ranking jump (+18). She went from 57 to 39. All this just makes me want to see a healthy Paula Badosa back on the court in 2026. She's easily a Top 10 WTA talent if she can have some luck staying healthy. She's at 18 right now which is fair given her difficult 2025 calendar year that was mired with several injuries and retirements.

In fact I think I already convinced myself that Paula Badosa is the player I want to believe in the most. I feel compassion for her. As I do Mirra Andreeva.

Is it time to have a tough conversation about the talented 22-year-old Emma Raducanu? Ranked 29 in the WTA but when she's playing well she's clearly a Top 10 talent. In fact I believe she reached the Top 10 as a 19-year-old sensation back in 2022. As I mentioned earlier in the thread she is also one of my favorite players to watch.

But lately she hasn't been healthy enough. A lot of her recent matches involve several medical timeouts. In her last match prior to today she had to retire down 1-6, 1-4 to Ann Li. She could've probably gutted it out and finished the match losing in straight sets 1-6, 1-6 but she retired instead. Most of the medical timeouts were due to heat exhaustion which is completely understandable.

Emma Raducanu lost today's match to Lin Zhu (ranked 219 in the WTA) 6-3, 4-6, 1-6. Emma Raducanu was heavily favored but still lost today's match. A head scratcher to say the least. Today she had a medical timeout for another heat exhaustion along with a back injury. It's getting to the point where I think it would serve her best to just take three or four months off. Step away from the game. Clear her head and let her body rest up. Because if we're not going to get the best version of Emma Raducanu what's the point?

But beyond her recent medical issues even when she has played well and been healthy enough to finish the match she hasn't had that killer instinct to put away her opponent. That mamba mentality for lack of a better word. There was a match against Barbora Krejcikova back in September. I had bet on Emma Raducanu for that match. I would've been at 3800 Forum Gold if I had won. It was the last real bet I had made. Not counting the small ones. And Emma Raducanu started off the match looking like she was the real deal just like I had anticipated. She won the first set 6-4 and she was cruising to a straight set victory. Up 5-2 in the second set. Several match points for Raducanu. I was already getting ready to celebrate the win. All she had to do was score one more point to win the match. She failed to do so... Krejcikova ended up winning a second set tiebreak 7-6 (10) winning 12-10 in the tiebreak. And then Raducanu completely gassed out and lost the third set 1-6.

That's the main problem in most of her recent matches. She lacks the stamina to play deep into the match. Medical timeouts and all. I love Emma Raducanu so much. She is always a must watch player. I stayed up until 7 a.m. this morning with no sleep watching her lose to Lin Zhu in what turned out to be a huge upset. Anyway guys. Sorry for the lengthy entry today. I just don't know what Emma Raducanu can do? She obviously needs some time off to get her mind and body in a better place.

Here's to hoping that we'll one day see the awesome Emma Raducanu again. Playing elite tennis and winning many matches again.
A lot of people call her one of the most beautiful women in the WTA. And yes. She is glamorous and gorgeous. But I want her to win.

I have something quick to add to my WTA discussion thread. I haven't had a chance lately because I've been super busy.

Diana Shnaider plays Lin Zhu in the quarterfinals at the 2025 Ningbo Open tomorrow morning at 7 a.m. Eastern.
I'm looking forward to this match. I have a podiatrist appointment not long after the match. I may miss some of it.

Lin Zhu has been upsetting everybody at the 2025 Ningbo Open. She defeated Emma Raducanu as previously mentioned.
And then yesterday morning she took down top seeded and heavily favored Mirra Andreeva 4-6, 6-3, 6-2. Just a stunner.
Just how big of an upset was it? BetMGM listed 18-year-old superstar Mirra Andreeva at -750. Lin Zhu was +475. So yeah.

As I've been writing earlier in the thread. Mirra Andreeva is really struggling. She's now lost three matches in a row. Something isn't right with her game right now and a lot of it is has to do with her emotions and mental toughness. But back to Diana Shnaider. She is Mirra Andreeva's doubles partner and best friend. Diana Shnaider will have a chance to beat a red hot Lin Zhu tomorrow morning. Diana Shnaider is 2-0 all-time vs. Zhu. This will be their third meeting.

Anyway. I just had to express how I feel about this. As you guys know Mirra Andreeva and Diana Shnaider are my favorite doubles team.
And right now Mirra Andreeva needs more fan support. I'm personally going to become a huge Mirra Andreeva fan. She needs us right now.

I'll be cheering for Diana Shnaider to defeat Lin Zhu tomorrow morning. Win it for your doubles partner, best friend and compatriot, Mirra Andreeva.

This was Diana Shnaider (+210 underdog) defeating Karolina Muchova in her last match. Diana Shnaider has what it takes to win the 2025 Ningbo Open.

I'm so proud of Diana Shnaider. She defeated Lin Zhu 2-6, 6-3, 6-1 to reach the Final Four at the 2025 Ningbo Open. Diana Shnaider will play Ekaterina Alexandrova at 5:30 AM Eastern tomorrow morning. The winner advances to the Final to face the winner of the Elena Rybakina and Jasmine Paolini match. I'm not going to lie guys. Jasmine Paolini is playing some exceptional Tennis right now and will be difficult to beat. But Diana Shnaider is locked in and ready for anybody right now.

I believe Shnaider won this match against Lin Zhu for her doubles partner and best friend, Mirra Andreeva.
Right now Mirra is going through a difficult time and she had just lost to Lin Zhu despite being a heavy favorite.

Diana Shnaider has something special about her going on right now. She's going to win the 2025 Ningbo Open. I just feel strongly about her play right now.

I stayed up past 6 AM watching Diana Shnaider lose in straight sets 3-6, 4-6 to Ekaterina Alexandrova.

So the 2025 Ningbo Open Final will be Elena Rybakina vs. Ekaterina Alexandrova. It'll be a great match anyway.
Another Tournament that the player I wanted to win didn't do it. Enjoy the great tennis guys. Have fun as well.

I'm just going to wait until 2026 when Paula Badosa plays again. Hopefully all the injuries will be stuck in the past.

The 2025 Ningbo Open Final will be a tremendous matchup at 5 AM Eastern tomorrow.
Elena Rybakina versus Ekaterina Alexandrova, I'm predicting Rybakina in three sets.

But I'd like to talk about the 2025 Japan Open rather quickly. All my attention was on the Ningbo Open.
Mostly because the Ningbo Open featured a lot of great players that I like and some compelling storylines.
So I was emotionally invested in the 2025 Ningbo Open. I should've paid more attention to the Japan Open.

Anyway. The 2025 Japan Open Final which starts tonight at 11 PM Eastern. There's a very intriguing matchup.
18-year-old sensation Tereza Valentova versus Leylah Fernandez. This match is going to be a very good one.

Just look at the quality of opponents that teenager Tereza Valentova has defeated at the Japan Open. Alexandra Eala, Elise Mertens, Olga Danilović and Jaqueline Cristian. If I had picked who would've won the 2025 Japan Open I'd have picked Elise Mertens to win it. And Tereza Valentova is just beating everybody at the 2025 Japan Open. She is now on my short list of teenagers, along with Mirra Andreeva, Victoria Mboko and Iva Jovic, a couple other young ladies I'm sure, that have a real chance to take over the WTA for the better part of the next two decades.

According to BetMGM for the 2025 Japan Open tonight. Tereza Valentova is +105 and Leylah Fernandez is -130
I obviously don't have 250 Forum Gold right now. But if I did I'd wager something for fun on Tereza in this match.

This was Tereza Valentova punching her ticket to the 2025 Japan Open later tonight.

Leylah Fernandez is your 2025 Japan Open Champion. Tereza Valentova lost 0-6, 7-5, 3-6 to Leylah Fernandez.

Tereza made it a fun match after losing the first seven games. But Leylah had that extra energy in the third set.
A couple of the games in the third set got away from Tereza. She had the advantage in two games but still lost.

LOL. I'm like 40% right with my WTA picks lately. I used to be 80%. I keep saying I need time away from the game.
But I have so much passion and love for Tennis. Mainly the WTA. I stay awake at odd hours just to watch every match.

I also watch several UTR Pro Tennis players on Prime Video. College-aged players trying to eventually make a WTA 1000 event.
I'm going to coach up my four-year-old niece to play Tennis. Hopefully get her to the WTA one day. We'll have us a champion.

Here's the highlights of the 2025 Japan Open Final between Tereza Valentova and Leylah Fernandez. Two young stars.



This post was edited by MADmartigan on Oct 18 2025 11:58pm

This is the player I'm most excited about returning in 2026. Paula Badosa. She plays hard and always leaves it all on the court.
I'm still saddened about her 2025 being derailed by several injuries. The way she plays with total aggression. I love her passion.
She had recently broken up with longtime boyfriend, Stefanos Tsitsipas, which on top of the injuries had tested her emotionally.



While Aryna Sabalenka is my favorite WTA player. Paula Badosa is easily my second favorite WTA player. And I may move Mirra Andreeva higher on my list so she becomes my third favorite WTA player. Mirra recently won me over with her recent struggles. Seeing her fall apart like she has her last three matches just makes me want to cheer for her even more. Mirra Andreeva is going through a rough stretch right now. She's not playing with any confidence and can't control her emotions. But she's still an 18-year-old superstar. Mirra Andreeva is going to figure things out.

But anyway. I would love nothing more than to watch another Paula Badosa match. Hopefully early 2026 will be her next match. Maybe January.

Oops! I accidentally double posted. That happens to me once or twice a year. I miss my WTA D2jsp Family.

My next post will be about Aryna Sabalenka's dominance at the 2025 WTA Finals in Riyadh.
I'll just create a new post now. I'd like to dedicate a post to a player I see a lot of greatness in.

Any fans of the 23-year-old German star Eva Lys? If I make a 'my favorite Top 10 WTA players' list.
I'd probably include her somewhere on my list. Definitely in the 5 to 10 range. Current ranking of 40
Eva Lys was actually born in Ukraine and she speaks beautiful English. She has a bright future ahead.

Eva Lys is the second German player I'm a big fan of. I'm also a fan of 20-year-old Ella Seidel. She has lost her last three matches though.

My cousin Arlene actually thinks Eva Lys is better than Emma Raducanu. They have never played each other before. Maybe one day we'll see it.



What I like the most about Eva Lys. She's a great competitor and representation for the WTA. Always promoting the game and engaging the fans.