Caroline Garcia, ranked just 79th in May, won the season-ending championship and will finish at No. 4 in a year that saw Serena Williams and Ashleigh Barty retire.
Even without China’s “zero-Covid” policy, Steve Simon said that unresolved concerns about Peng Shuai would keep women’s tennis away from Shenzhen and a lucrative 10-year-deal to stage the Finals.
The tennis star has spoken out against Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and come out as gay with her partner, the figure skater and fellow Russian Natalia Zabiiako. And she’s winning.