by Bobby Chintapalli, Contributing Writer
As we kick off Day 2 of the WTA Championships in Istanbul, here are a few numbers—odds and ends, really—on the players in action today. But first let's look at today’s matches and standings:
The Matches
1) Red Group: Samantha Stosur vs. Victoria Azarenka ? Azarenka leads 4-0
2) Red Group: Maria Sharapova vs. Li Na ? Sharapova leads 5-3
3) White Group: Caroline Wozniacki vs. Vera Zvonareva ? Tied 4-4
The Standings (Red Group)
Petra Kvitova ? 1-0 (2 sets won, 0 sets lost)
Caroline Wozniacki ? 1-0 (2 sets won, 1 set lost)
Agnieszka Radwanska ? 0-1 (1 set won, 2 sets lost)
Vera Zvonareva ? 0-1 (0 sets won, 2 sets lost)
The Standings (White Group)
Samantha Stosur ? 1-0 (2 sets won, 0 sets lost)
Victoria Azarenka ? 0-0
Li Na ? 0-0
Maria Sharapova ? 0-1 (0 sets won, 2 sets lost)
The Numbers
1
The ranking spot we love to discuss and discuss again. You know the one, Caroline Wozniacki’s ranking spot. Maria Sharapova’s the only other qualifier who’s been No. 1, but only Wozniacki has finished the year there before. If she does it again this year—a strong possibility—she’ll be the only active player apart from Serena Williams to do it twice. Not bad company to keep in the tennis numbers department, is it?
2
The number of players in the WTA Championships from Russia, the only country boasting two qualifiers. They are Maria Sharapova and Vera Zvonareva, who have more than nationality in common. They five Championships appearances, the most among those here, and are tied for third (along with Svetlana Kuznetsova) among all active players. They are, less impressively, also the only two qualifiers who haven’t won a Slam or a Premier Mandatory tournament this year.
4
The number of years Vera Zvonareva has finished in the Top 10, the longest active streak. (Meanwhile, Petra Kvitova and Li Na will finish there for the first time.)
16
Victoria Azarenka’s age the first time she played Sam Stosur, her opponent today. It was at New Haven qualifying in 2005, and Azarenka was playing only her second WTA event. She beat Stosur 6-1, 6-3.
21
Caroline Wozniacki’s age. It's also Petra Kvitova’s, but Wozniacki is younger by a few months and is the youngest in this year’s field. (The youngest-ever qualifier was Jennifer Capriati, who was just 14 in 1990.) It turns out 21 was an especially good age to be this year. Players aged 21 won more singles titles than those of all ages except 20 (some of the same players at different points in the year). Group the two ages together, and these young ladies won nearly a third of all singles titles this year.
29
Li Na’s age. It makes her the oldest player in this year’s field. Sam Stosur, the second-oldest player, is a whopping—it’s tennis, after all—27.
59
Sam Stosur’s career win percentage. It’s the lowest among the players here.
80
Maria Sharapova’s career win percentage. It’s the highest among the players here. It’s also about the same as Caroline Wozniacki’s and Petra Kvitova’s win percentages this year.