The penultimate day of 2023
World Tennis League action is incoming on Saturday afternoon with the final set to be confirmed and it still being very much all to play for albeit with two teams in pole position.
Kites who comprise Aryna Sabalenka, Stefanos Tsitsipas (albeit he didn't play on Day Two), Paula Badosa and Grigor Dimitrov lead the way and are very much likely to reach the final. They face off against Hawks who lost for a second time on Friday. That team comprises Iga Swiatek, Hubert Hurkacz, Caroline Garcia and Casper Ruud.
They sit bottom albeit only one point behind Eagles who won the last match of the day to keep themselves in the hunt. Daniil Medvedev led from the front for the team alongside Sofia Kenin, Mirra Andreeva and Andrey Rublev. Second place though is currently Elena Rybakina's Falcons.
Rybakina won the title last year with the Hawks and despite seemingly having the least flashy team on paper with Sorana Cirstea, Taylor Fritz and Sumit Nagal has been on the task especially in doubles and throwing away a win against Aryna Sabalenka aside sits in pole position three points behind Kites and could yet aim for revenge against Sabalenka in Sunday's final.
The format is a round robin where all games matter so for instance a 6-4 to a team no matter in singles or doubles will add the respective points on so in theory, Hawks even at the bottom could still win through to the final if they thrash Kites on Saturday. The top two teams at the end of the round robin face off on Christmas Eve in the final.
Standings 2023 World Tennis League
Rank | Team | Ties | Games | Bonus Points | Points Total |
1 | Kites | 2-0 | 58-52 | 2 | 60 |
2 | Falcons | 1-1 | 55-55 | 2 | 57 |
3 | Eagles | 1-1 | 51-55 | 2 | 53 |
4 | Hawks | 0-2 | 52-54 | 0 | 52 |