By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Saturday October 9, 2021
Ons Jabeur eked out a three-set win to bolster her bid to reach the WTA Finals, while Garbine Muguruza was upset.
Photo Source: Getty
Ons Jabeur pushed past Latvia’s Anastasija Sevastova, 6-2, 6-7(5), 6-3 to reach the third round of the BNP Paribas on Saturday, while Garbiñe Muguruza fell at the first hurdle, 6-3, 1-6, 6-3 to Ajla Tomljanovic.
The results have significant implications when it comes to this year’s Race to the WTA Finals in Guadalajara, as the BNP Paribas Open is the last 1000 point tournament to be held before the WTA Finals take place in mid-November.
Muguruza, last week’s Chicago champion, currently sits in seventh in the race, but she could be passed by several players next week, depending on how far they can reach in the draw.
Current Race to Guadalajara
1. Barty 6411 (qualified)
2. Sabalenka, 4669 (qualified)
3. Krejcikova, 4408 (qualified)
4. Pliskova, 3981 (qualified)
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5. Swiatek, 3171 (into third round at BNPPO)
6. Sakkari, 3157 (plays on Saturday)
7. Muguruza, 3151 (lost second round at BNPPO)
8. Osaka, 2771 (did not play BNPPO)
9. Jabeur, 2695 (into third round at BNPPO)
10. Pavlyuchenkova, 2449 (into third round at BNPPO)
11. Mertens, 2447 (lost second round BNPPO)
12. Svitolina, 2446(into third round at BNPPO)
13. Pegula, 2350 (into third round at BNPPO)
14. Gauff, 2325 (Plays on Saturday)
Ons Jabeur, currently ninth in the race, hopes to do just that. She added to her point total today and could pass No.8 Naomi Osaka with two more victories in the California desert.
Iga Swiatek – currently fifth in the live race, Maria Sakkari – currently sixth, Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova – 10th, Elina Svitolina, Jessica Pegula and Coco Gauff all have slim chances to move up into a qualification spot this week at the BNP Paribas Open.
Swiatek, Pavlyuchenkova, Pegula and Svitolina are already into the third round and will be in action on Sunday.
Sakkari and Gauff are in action later today.
Stay tuned for updates as results come in. Go here for full live Race to Guadalajara rankings.