What if Wozniacki, Zvonareva and Radwanska end up tied at 1-2 in matches and 3-5 in sets?

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Head Radical

The situation in the Red Group of the WTA Championships is dramatic, as it’s very complicated to calculate who will pass the round-robin phase and reach the semifinals. Our reader, Daniel Bellin, a 61-year-old retired tennis fan from Princeville, Kaua’i Hawai’i, currently living in Bucharest, made a mathematical prediction for us.

Agnieszka Radwanska’s victory over Vera Zvonereva sets up a probable 3-way tie between her, Zvonareva and Caroline Wozniacki. Petra Kvitova will probably beat Radwanska. If Kvitova wins in straight sets, then all three of the remaining Reds are 1-2 in matches and 3-5 in sets. Zvonareva beat Wozniacki, but Wozniacki beat Radwanska who beat Zvonareva so there is perfect symmetry there.

To find a winner, we must go to percentage of games won. In that case, Zvonareva will be the second semifinalist unless Radwanska beats Kvitova or wins a set off of her. If Radwanska wins a set she is 4-5 in sets while the others are 3-5. If she loses to Kvitova in straight sets at 7-6 7-6 or worse, she is, at best 39 wins to 44 losses for 46.98%. Zvonareva won 35 games and lost 37 for 48.611% and Wozniacki won 34 games and lost 41 for 45.333%. Thus Zvonareva is the second Red Group semifinalist unless Radwanska wins 1 or more sets from Kvitova. Cool, huh? (photos: © Neal Trousdale)

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Marija Zivlak
Marija Zivlak is the founder and editor-in-chief of Women’s Tennis Blog, a trusted source for in-depth coverage of the WTA Tour, tennis fashion, and player insights. Based in Belgrade, Serbia, she has been reporting on women’s tennis for over 18 years and has contributed exclusive fashion articles to the official WTA website. Marija launched Women’s Tennis Blog on March 31, 2007 to provide fans with accurate, engaging, and up-to-date tennis news. Her expertise and deep connections within the sport allow her to offer unique perspectives on tennis trends, gear, and events.

4 COMMENTS

  1. Dan — thank you so much for the clarification. Just curious — how many times before this has there been this kind of perfect symmetry in the RR, setting up such a confusing resolution?

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