'It's a celebration' - Elite Eight on 2018 WTA Finals unique atmosphere

SINGAPORE - The Elite Eight gathered on Friday for the Iconic Photoshoot, a quintessential aspect of the BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global. Dressed in reds and blacks, the women, led by top seeds Angelique Kerber and Caroline Wozniacki, climbed risers and posed with the Billie Jean King Trophy in between, the brilliant Marina Bay Sands in the background.

Where most major tournaments feature fields as large as 128, the Singapore draw begins and ends on that riser, making for an atmosphere in the vein of King’s own Original Nine.

“I do like it, actually,” Petra Kvitova said of the whirlwind evening during Saturday’s All Access Hour. “I like those kind of party things, as well, which we had yesterday. When you're waiting in the holding room for the draw and everything, you just chat with those girls, which I don't think it's really happening like during those Grand Slams or tournaments.”

Traveling to and from the photoshoot in an open air buggy, the women cracked jokes as the cameras flashed, sharing a laugh as Kerber took control of the selfie stick for a group shot. The round robin format, she theorized, may be key to keeping things loose ahead of an otherwise stressful week in Singapore.

“We are doing a lot of things together here, and it is a little bit more relaxed because we know we will play against each other for three matches,” observed the German.

“Everybody who is here deserved it, and they played really consistent, great in 2018. So I think that everybody is really proud and happy to be here, playing here. Yeah, I think it's just a little bit more relaxed than during other tournaments.”

For defending champion Caroline Wozniacki, the tournament’s lighter mood comes down to its place in the calendar, serving as the last hoorah for the sport’s biggest stars.

“I think it's different here,” said the Dane. “It's kind of a celebration of everyone's season. Everyone is excited to be here and everyone is excited also to play this last tournament, give it a go and try their best and go on vacation after.”

“This event definitely makes you feel very, very special,” added Elina Svitolina. “When I realized that I'm one of the best players and competing here, definitely have goosebumps.”

The photoshoot gave way to a Gala evening that sorted the Elite Eight into two groups, followed by Player Awards, where Svitolina won the WTA Diamond Aces Award, and No.8 seed Kiki Bertens won Most Improved.

“To be honest, it's not really my thing,” the Dutch star laughingly admitted when asked about the pomp and circumstance of the night. “I have to get used to that also a little bit more. Still, I really enjoyed it last night. I thought it was going to be a little bit more stressful for me to do all that kind of stuff, but no, it was all good. I'm also not too exhausted over everything to just start this tournament really well.”

US Open champion Naomi Osaka wouldn’t call herself a social butterfly, but made the most of the opportunity to get to know her fellow players, including first opponent Sloane Stephens.

“You know me. I don't really talk to people,” she said of her time in the holding rooms. “I mean, I listen to their conversations, if that counts. Actually, during the entire gala and photo session we had yesterday, [Sloane] was really nice. It's both our first time here. We both want to do well, so I think the match that we play is going to be very good.”

Stephens, by contrast, is an extrovert with a capital E; even with jetlagged she let loose a flurry of one-liners during the photoshoot and made sure Osaka was in the right spot for the group selfie.

“We see each other all year long, so a lot of us are very familiar with each other,” noted the No.5 seed. “It was just another good time, an amazing experience to be here and an honor to be able to be here and play with these girls.

“There’s a lot of pictures, a lot of group activities together. It's a tournament of eight players, so this is the only time of the year that this happens for us. I think at a Grand Slam, there is a lot of faces you don't know, a lot of qualifiers, people you have never even seen before. I think that's what makes a Grand Slam special, but then here obviously special, seven other girls that you know pretty well that you see frequently throughout the year. It's just fun to be here with them and, I guess you could say, bond a little bit better.”

The weekend is hardly over by the time round robin action commences on Sunday night. By then, predicts former World No.1 Karolina Pliskova, the party will be over.

“Everything changes a little bit then; everybody has the team here. There is not going to be much fun between the players. But look, I'm fine with everybody. I didn't need any dramas in the locker rooms or somewhere. It’ll just be the match on court, and that's it for me.”