[Protoss]

Moscow is Caro's 15 Wta singles title on hard court.

This is Caro's 3rd title indoors.

Moscow is the 8th title that Caro won in a 3 set final.

This is the 1st time that Caro has come from down a break in the 3rd set (2 game difference) to win a final.

Moscow is probably the slowest surface Caro has won a title on. I think the next slowest is Indian Wells.

Caro beat 3 top 30 players in winning Moscow just as she did in winning Seoul. She hadn't done that since Indian Wells in 2011.

Caro won three 3 set matches in a row for the 1st time since Copenhagen in 2010.

Russia is the 11th country Caro has won a title in. How's about adding a title from Australia in the not too distant future?

Congrats Caro on winning your 2nd title of the year and 20th of your career!!!!

[terjw]

Originally Posted by C. W. Fields

I mean for next season. If Caro plays a full schedule in 2013, she'll receive about a million dollars in bonus money if she's 2012 YE #10, which she won't get if she's #11.

WTA Official Rule Book

II.C

Top 10 Players shall be entitled to the following compensation payments, provided they play all of the Tournaments in each of the categories below:

PLAYERS

Year End Ranking, Premier Mandatory, Premier 5, 9th Premier Mandatory/Premier 5 Super Bonus, Premier 700

1 $400,000 $400,000 $100,000 $100,000
2 $300,000 $300,000 $100,000 $100,000
3 $300,000 $300,000 $50,000 $50,000
4 $200,000 $200,000 $50,000 $50,000
5 $200,000 $200,000 $50,000 $50,000
6 $150,000 $150,000 $50,000 $50,000
7 $100,000 $100,000 $25,000 $25,000
8 $100,000 $100,000 $25,000 $25,000
9 $100,000 $100,000 $25,000 $25,000
10 $100,000 $100,000 $25,000 $25,000

Money is nice to have - but I don't believe for a moment that's what she's thinking of as her motivation for being in the top 10. And as I said before - I don't even think her motivation is to go up in the rankings into the top 10 as the primary reason for playing this TOC tournament or any tournament for that matter but that it's simply just trying to win for winnings sake and a trophy wherever she's playing.

Since she always fulfills her committments - she's always got these bonuses when she's been in the top ten list at the end of the previous year. But I don't believe either that getting the bonus plays any part in why she meets her committments. She meets them because the rules say she has to. Most people in life when they obey rules - they obey them because they are rules. They are not supposed to be options like you can go ahead, get in a car and break the speed limit if you are prepared to pay the fine.

But there's an attitude - and we see it a lot in GM - of it's OK or even applauded to break the WTA rules and take the "option" of paying the fine and get a "zero" pointer. And even to get round the zero pointer by playing and tanking.

And Caro doesn't do any of that. She simply complies with the WTA rules - the organisation that has given her the chance to compete withe the bets women tennis players in the world. Which is one of many reasons I like her.

[C. W. Fields]

I don't think the money difference between being #11 or #10 is Caro's main consideration, either. I just wanted to point out that while the players in the top 10 are more 'locked', there are positives, too, like extra money. But if Caro wins TOC, she'll probably just be glad that she was able to finish the year on a positive note and win another title. And being able to say "I'm in the world top 10" has a nice ring to it. Being #11 is more 'meh'.

[Jorn]

Groups in Sofia:

Group Serdika
Petrova, Kirilenko, Pironkova and Zheng

Group Sredets
Wozniacki, Hantuchova, Hsieh and Vinci.


Can has been worse, but this is not a easy Group either... Go Caro!

[marineblue]

Hantuchova in her group, that can be tricky. But it'll be interesting. Go Caro!

[TennisFan66]

I saw in GM, the court is supposedly super-fast ... I suppose they're trying to give the local girl as much home advantage as possible?

[Mitten Kitten]

If it's true that the courts are superfast, then it's the real proof for how developed is her aggressive game. But we can't get to know it until we see it. Bali was indeed the fastest surface of the year, but who knows about this sofia?
anw the group is quite tough, she'll need to be focused from her very first match.

[Martn7]

Caro has a chance to beat Vinci and fix that H2H

[bruce goose]

Originally Posted by Jorn

Groups in Sofia:

Group Serdika
Petrova, Kirilenko, Pironkova and Zheng

Group Sredets
Wozniacki, Hantuchova, Hsieh and Vinci.


Can has been worse, but this is not a easy Group either... Go Caro!

Can we assume that 'serdika' and 'sredets' are names of colors...or maybe famous Bulgarian violinists to whom the tourney is paying tribute?In terms of competition,Caro probably got the slightly-easier group but,if she plays well,she should do well against anyone in the field

[C. W. Fields]

Originally Posted by bruce goose

Can we assume that 'serdika' and 'sredets' are names of colors...or maybe famous Bulgarian violinists to whom the tourney is paying tribute?

It's historical names for Sofia.

[Jorn]

One posted the wrong name here in the Forum, Caro plays in the Serdika Group.

[Protoss]

Originally Posted by Fantasy Hero

If it's true that the courts are superfast, then it's the real proof for how developed is her aggressive game. But we can't get to know it until we see it. Bali was indeed the fastest surface of the year, but who knows about this sofia?
anw the group is quite tough, she'll need to be focused from her very first match.

The court surface falls under the Itf classification of medium fast (4 on a scale of 1 to 5 with 3 being medium pace).

I'm a bit concerned as I read a comment from Caro that the surface/conditions were a bit too fast. Caro's timing on her ground strokes could be thrown off and camping out well behind the baseline is a bad idea. Her return of serve also tends to struggle on faster surfaces.

I think Tokyo is the fastest tournament Caro's won followed by Beijing. I'm not sure what their Itf classification is or was though.

[Protoss]

Tricky draw for Caro. It would be nice to end the season on a high note.

Good luck Caro.

[Mitten Kitten]

solid win, but she clearly doesn't enjoy the courts.

[Protoss]

Originally Posted by Fantasy Hero

solid win, but she clearly doesn't enjoy the courts.

Well all the courts can't be slow as molasses.