With each passing day, the 2017 season may be growing closer to an end, but that has not meant a shortage of enthralling tennis or headlines.  Already, fans can see new plot-lines emerging heading into 2018, including some compelling stories that evolved over the course of this week.

Not surprisingly, the WTA Finals in Singapore have supplied plenty of intrigue, and through her first couple of matches, Caroline Wozniacki has been one of the standouts.  Through the first handful of rounds, she has barely dropped games, let alone sets.  If she can continue her run of fine form to cap off the year with a title, it could be a real boon heading into 2018.  After all, she is someone who has sat atop the rankings and reached the final stage of a slam.  A title run at the WTA Finals has proven to be the key stepping stone to other past champions to eventually capture their maiden slam, and there is no reason why Singapore could not turn into a similar catapult for this talented woman.

Two women who have also been pleasant surprises this week are Venus Williams and Caroline Garcia.  In truth, Williams has been a pleasant surprise all season, particularly in light of her reaching the finals of both the Australian Open and Wimbledon.  Aged thirty-seven and having been written off on multiple occasions, it was amazing that she found herself still in contention to finish the year Number 1 heading into Singapore.  She has played some spectacular tennis over young guns Jelena Ostapenko and Garbiñe Muguruza to reach the final four, with her victory over the Latvian being one of the most exciting matches of the tournament.  If she were to find a way to go all the way here, it is hard to not like her prospects of perhaps capturing an eighth major title next season.

Less familiar to fans is Frenchwoman Caroline Garcia, and while her record is not that of Williams, she has also proven to be a joy to watch this week.  A top-ranked doubles player, she split from countrywoman Kristina Mladenovic earlier this season to focus on her singles, and it is paying dividends in relatively quick time.  She played some stellar tennis down the stretch, taking the titles in Wuhan and Beijing to book her place in Singapore.  After a nervy start against Simona Halep, she dug deep to garner the notable win over Elina Svitolina and keep her own title hopes alive here.  She is still a heavy underdog in Singapore, but a good showing here could be exactly what she needs to propel herself to greater things in 2018.  If she can do that, fans will be all the richer for it, because she has every shot in the book and when at her best, can bring an exciting brand of all-court tennis to the top of the women's game.

For all the great stories that have been developing throughout this week, however, arguably the most surprising and saddest was the revelation that Martina Hingis plans to retire at the conclusion of the WTA Finals, where she has already earned a spot in the semifinals with partner Yung-Jan Chan.  Hingis has retired in the past only to return to the sport, but at age thirty-seven and with all that she has accomplished during her latest career in doubles, this time definitely has a feeling of permanence about it.  Nonetheless, the news came as a surprise, as the Swiss is coming off a great 2017, winning nine titles that have included tournaments such as the US Open, Madrid, Rome, and Indian Wells.  She is also jointly the top-ranked doubles player and has enjoyed recent success in the mixed doubles with partner Jamie Murray as well.  Few doubles players possess the kind of feel and anticipation skills that made her such a tricky opponent, and her absence is apt to be keenly felt in the women's doubles arena next season.

These are just a handful of the intriguing nuggets that have emerged as the WTA season winds down for another year.  And while fans are sure to enjoy what remains of 2017, it is impossible not to get excited about 2018 with what has and will transpire in the scant remains of this season.