Singa-poor

Long live this photo (via Twitter)

We have finally separated the cream of the crop from the "Elite" (please re-brand and/or cancel Zhuhai next year, Steve Simon) and the WTA Finals field is set with some familiar faces Flavia Pennetta and Lucie Safarova reaching new career heights and a rising breakout star in Garbiñe Muguruza ready to cement her place at the top of the game.

Sadly, the young Spaniard is the only one I'm really looking forward to seeing. The other five singles players have participated in the end-of-year Championships in years past and this may be Pennetta's last ever professional tournament. Safarova is an interesting case as a newbie to this echelon because she has the talent to beat anyone and seems to be hitting a late-career stride. As far as this iteration of Singapore is concerned, however, her mysterious illness may have derailed her chances to be a threat for the title.

So what does Singapore have in store this year? Muguruza, Angelique Kerber, Pennetta, and Safarova have taken the spots vacated by Serena Williams, Eugenie Bouchard, Ana Ivanovic, and Caroline Wozniacki. Oof. That is a tremendous decline in star power. Speaking of Serena, what does it mean to win a tournament for which she is not present? Let's be real: Serena is the Queen Bee of the WTA. The tour revolves around her, especially true this season, and the void she's left this fall is bigger than ever. As far as Serena's competitors are concerned, I'm sure they are very happy that she is taking an extended vacation. Still, I can't help but think this tournament will be a non sequitur. It will happen, but it won't signal anything to come in 2016. Even a Garbiñe win would fall between a continuation of her Wuhan-Beijing performance and a career achievement, a confirmation of what we already believed.

What do we think of the WTA Finals this year? Will it be a bang or a bust? Leave a comment or tweet at me! Draw comes out Friday, should be a great opportunity for one of the eight regardless!