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Catfights? Not among these girls - WTA Finals stars talk friendship with each other

SINGAPORE - OCTOBER 18: L-R Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland,Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark, and Ana Ivanovic of Serbia walk from the Marina Bay Sands hotel to the draw ceremony prior to the start of the BNP Paribas WTA Finals at Singapore Sports Hub on October 18, 2014 in Singapore. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
SINGAPORE - OCTOBER 18: L-R Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland,Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark, and Ana Ivanovic of Serbia walk from the Marina Bay Sands hotel to the draw ceremony prior to the start of the BNP Paribas WTA Finals at Singapore Sports Hub on October 18, 2014 in Singapore. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)

The world’s top eight female tennis players have descended upon Singapore ahead of the year-end Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) Finals, which will be held in Asia-Pacific for the first time.

Serena Williams, Maria Sharapova, Petra Kvitova, Simona Halep, Eugenie Bouchard, Agnieszka Radwanska, Ana Ivanovic and Caroline Wozniacki made their first appearance together on Saturday evening at the singles draw ceremony at Marina Bay Sands, where they presented a united front on stage.

It would seem that the group are indeed on good terms with each other off the courts, despite being fierce rivals on it.

Already, a few of them have posted pictures on their social media accounts, which depict group “selfies” with big smiles all round. At the draw ceremony, the cameras captured plenty of laughter going on as well.

It should come as no surprise that the stars get along well with each other, given that they see each other on a regular basis throughout the year at a plethora of tournaments.

I think we're very friendly on tour,” explained Wozniacki at an all-access press conference on Sunday. “There are so many great girls on tour. We travel to the same tournaments every week and we see each other every week.

“Obviously we compete against each other on the court, but off the court we just have a laugh and enjoy each other's company.”

The Dane is herself close friends with Radwanska, with the latter revealing they have known each other for 15 years.

“I think it's great to have someone like this on tour and playing the same junior tournaments… and now being top 10, both of us, for [past] couple of years,” the Pole said.

Intriguingly, 24-year-old Wozniacki is also close with world number one Williams, who is nine years her senior. Williams, the defending WTA Finals champion, explained that the “little connection” she had with Wozniacki in their early days has only grown stronger as the years passed by.

“We just really get along great,” she said. “We are the best of friends. She helps me, I help her.”

WTA Finals debutant Bouchard also has no trouble getting along with her compatriots despite being the youngest participant, describing the mood as “light-hearted”.

I am friendly with all the players; it's not like we don't say one word to each other,” the 29-year-old said.

“I think we're happy to be here in this kind of situation, I think life is pretty good generally so in terms of that, I think it can be pretty relaxed off the court.”

Williams summed it up best by saying there was no point in bearing grudges or having “anything against anyone”.

I'm the kind of person that always says hello to everyone,” she reflected.         

“Life is far too short and there are so many things that are so much more important in life than, you know, hitting a tennis ball. Things do last longer than tennis.

“I think if you do have a good friendship, even if it's [just] one, it's worth it.”