Porsche Race to Singapore Update: Sabalenka closing the gap

This post has been updated to reflect results from Day 7 at the China Open. 

BEIJING, China - The qualifying process for the 2018 BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global took a giant step forward on Day 6, as Petra Kvitova and Caroline Wozniacki became the fourth and fifth players, respectively, to qualify in singles and the entire Elite Eight doubles field was set.

On Day 7, 20-year-old Aryna Sabalenka looks advance her outside chances of qualifying for the WTA Finals. 

Sabalenka faces China's No.1 Wang Qiang in the China Open quarterfinals, in the second night match on Diamond Court on Friday night. A champion in Wuhan a week ago, if Sabalenka fails to make the semifinals in Beijing then she would have to win both Tianjin and Moscow for a chance to qualify.

Updated singles qualification scenarios on Friday, October 5th:

Qualified:

1. Simona Halep: Retired in the first round of Beijing due to back injury. 

2. Angelique Kerber: Lost in the third round of Beijing to Zhang Shuai. 

3. Naomi Osaka: In the semifinals of Beijing to play Anastasija Sevastova. 

4. Petra Kvitova: Lost in the first round of Beijing. 

5. Caroline Wozniacki: In the semifinals of Beijing to either Aryna Sabalenka or Wang Qiang.

Others still with a chance to qualify in the Top 8: 

Stephens, Svitolina, Bertens, and Pliskova cannot be eliminated from the Race to Singapore this week. 

Sloane Stephens: Lost in the third round to Dominika Cibulkova. She would need a wildcard to play any events in the next two weeks. 

Elina Svitolina: Lost in the first round of Beijing. She is entered in Hong Kong next week and would need a wildcard to play Moscow.

Karolina Pliskova: Lost in the third round to Wang Qiang. She has taken a wildcard into Tianjin next week and is entered in Moscow.

Kiki Bertens: Lost in the third round to Katerina Siniakova. She is entered in Linz next week and Moscow. Bertens needs to make the quarterfinals or better in Linz, or win a match in Moscow, to add points. 

Aryna Sabalenka: Currently in the quarterfinals to play Wang. She is currently scheduled to play Tianjin next week and then Moscow. 

Anastasia Sevastova: Currently in the semifinals and will play Osaka. Sevastova must win the title in Beijing to stay in qualifying contention. She is entered in Moscow. 

Qualification for the WTA Finals is based on a number of variables and only becomes official when the respective player has reached a point total that will assure a Top 8 finish on the Porsche Race to Singapore Leaderboard. The WTA Finals Qualification Team takes into account the possibility of players accepting late wildcards to enter events in the final two weeks of the season. 

UPDATE: Dabrowski/Xu defeated Rosolska/Spears in straight sets in Beijing to set the Elite Eight doubles field in Singapore. Here is the field of eight qualified teams:

• Krjecikova/Siniakova
• Babos/Mladenovic
• Sestini Hlavackova/Strycova
• Mertens/Schuurs
• Dabrowski/Xu
• Klepac/Martinez Sanchez
• Melichar/Peschke
• Barty/Vandeweghe

The WTA is now accepting applications for Media Accreditation for the 2018 BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global. Applications can be submitted here.