wta finals race

Porsche Race to Singapore Update, October 1: Sabalenka adds suspense to final weeks

1m read 01 Oct 2018 6y ago

With the BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global just over two weeks away, the chase to be a part of the elite eight in singles continues.

Last week's Dongfeng Motor Wuhan Open champion, Aryna Sabalenka, threw her hat into the ring of qualification contention by winning her biggest career title at the Premier 5 event, and second overall this year.

The Belarusian rises to a career-high World No.16 in this week's WTA rankings, and soars nine spots in the Race to No.11 - sitting less than 700 points behind Karolina Pliskova in the No.8 spot.

In other news surrounding the contenders, 10th-slotted Elise Mertens was upset by China's Zhang Shuai in her first match at the China Open in Beijing on Monday, putting a wrench in her hopes on improving her standing towards the singles field.

With just two players officially qualified for Singapore as the calendar turns to the month of October, the progress of players in Beijing will prove critical for their hopes of officially qualifying for the season-ending championships.

Caroline Wozniacki, Naomi Osaka, Kiki Bertens and Pliskova all successfully passed their first test at the China Open over the course of the first three days of main draw action, but Petra Kvitova and Elina Svitolina were both upset in the first round.

Here's how the Porsche Race to Singapore in singles stands as of October 1:

In doubles, the elite eight field is halfway there.

Two more teams qualified last week based on their results in Wuhan as champions Mertens and Demi Schuurs and runners-up Andrea Sestini Hlavackova and Barbora Strycova both confirmed spots in Singapore.

Here's how the Porsche Race to Singapore in doubles stands as of October 1:

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 via wtafinals2018.

WTA Staff