Porsche Race to Singapore Update: 5 spots up for grabs in Beijing

BEIJING, China - Five spots remain up for grabs for the BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global, after US Open Champion Naomi Osaka joined World No.1 and French Open champion Simona Halep and Wimbledon champion Angelique Kerber as the third woman to qualify for the WTA's crown jewel event.

At the start of the China Open, 18 women had a chance to qualify for the WTA Finals and through nearly two rounds of play, that number has been whittled down to 9. Five of those women have a chance to lock up their Singapore spots this week at the China Open.

Here are the qualifying scenarios, which we will update as results from Beijing continue. 

Qualified:

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

Angelique Kerber: In the third round of Beijing to play either Timea Babos or Zhang Shuai.

Naomi Osaka: In the third round of Beijing to play Julia Goerges. 

Chance to Qualify in Beijing: 

Petra Kvitova: Despite losing in the first round, the Czech can still qualify this week depending on other results.

Caroline Wozniacki: Currently in the third round and will play Anett Kontaveit. Wozniacki can qualify by making the semifinals, or sooner depending on other results.

Sloane Stephens: Lost in the third round to Dominika Cibulkova. Stephens cannot qualify this week. 

Kiki Bertens: Currently in the third round to play Katerina Siniakova. Bertens can qualify by winning the title, or sooner depending on other results.

Karolina Pliskova: Currently in the third round to play Wang Qiang. Pliskova can qualify by winning the title, or sooner depending on other results.

Regardless of their results, Kvitova, Wozniacki, Stephens, Bertens, and Pliskova cannot be eliminated from the Race to Singapore this week. 

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

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

Aryna Sabalenka: Currently in the third round to play Caroline Garcia. Sabalenka must make the semifinals in Beijing to stay in qualifying contention.

Julia Goerges: Currently in the third round to play Osaka. Goerges needs to win the title in Beijing to stay in qualifying contention.

Anastasia Sevastova: Currently in the quarterfinals and will play Cibulkova. Sevastova must win the title in Beijing to stay in qualifying contention.

This post was updated at the close of play on Wednesday, October 3rd. 

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. 

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.