WTA Finals Set as Final Four Qualify
Entering Thursday, there were four spots still available in the WTA Finals in Singapore.
Those spots have since been filled, as Eugenie Bouchard, Agnieszka Radwanska, Caroline Wozniacki and Ana Ivanovic all qualified for the WTA’s crown jewel event because of Angelque Kerber and Ekaterina Makarova’s early exits at the China Open.
Kerber and Makarova needed to make deep runs in Beijing, the quarterfinals at least, in order to have a shot at being one of the final eight to go to Singapore. Both players lost on Thursday, securing entry for Bouchard, Radwanska, Wozniacki and Ivanovic.
Serena Williams, Maria Sharapova, Simona Halep and Petra Kvitova were the first four to qualify.
“I’m excited to compete in my first WTA Finals,” said Bouchard, the youngest player out of the eight who qualified. “The fans in Singapore were so enthusiastic when I visited in January for the launch of the Road to Singapore. I am looking forward to returning later this month and hope to see some new members of the Genie Army at the finals.”
Ivanovic’s 55 match wins this year is good for most on the tour this season, and is the most she has had in any year of her career.
“It’s been my big goal since the beginning of the year,” said Ivanovic, who is in the semifinals at the China Open. “Everyone really earns a spot there, and I feel like I’ve been playing so well the whole year. I was working hard towards this.”
The WTA Finals will take place from Oct. 20-26. Serena Williams is the two-time defending champion.
