With under two weeks left and two further women’s tournaments to play out after this week’s Internationals in Linz and Tianjin, the chances to qualify for the end-of-season finales are almost over for the top players.
The annual Hengqin Life WTA Elite Trophy Zhuhai, set to take place from 22 to 27 October, is the first of the two, targeting the players who fall just short of the WTA Finals showstopper in Shenzhen. And the WTA has announced the first confirmed women to qualify to contest prize money totalling over $2.4 million.
The prestigious event features both singles and doubles, and will be staged in the south Chinese coast city of Zhuhai at the purpose designed state-of-the-art Zhuhai Hengqin International Tennis Centre.
And the top-ranked Briton, Johanna Konta, is the first in line, currently ranked No11 after a strong year that saw her reach two clay finals before making her first semi-final at the French Open, and then the quarters of both Wimbledon and the US Open.
But she has not played since New York after picking up a knee injury and opting to bypass both Wuhan and Beijing. She is however scheduled to play in Moscow next week.
Konta will be playing in Zhuhai for the second time, as will the 21-year-old Aryna Sabalenka, who is currently ranked No16 after winning the Wuhan Open for the second time.
In contrast, Sofia Kenin and Petra Martic, ranked 15 and 17 respectively, will be making their debuts in Zhuhai.
The 2019 season proved to be a breakthrough year for rising American star Kenin. The 20-year-old has already lifted three WTA singles titles in addition to reaching four finals. She began the Asian swing by competing in the new Zhengzhou Open, and won her third title of the year at the Guangzhou Open, reaching a career-ranking in the process.
After reaching her first Major quarter-final at Roland Garros, Martic carried her momentum into the start of the Asian swing to make her first Premier-level final at Zhengzhou, sealing her own career-high ranking.
Madison Keys has been confirmed for the third time after winning her first career Premier 5 title in Cincinnati this season and lifting her first clay court title at Charleston earlier in the year.
WTA Elite Trophy, Zhuhai [played the week before Shenzhen]
The Zhuhai field comprises the top 11 players who do not qualify for Shenzhen, plus one wildcard. The top contenders may yet reach the WTA Finals, but those currently in the top 20 are all in with a chance—and it is well worth noting that the winner in Zhuhai last year was current No1 Barty.
Current standings in Race to Shenzhen
1 Ashleigh Barty [qualified]
2 Karolina Pliskova [qualified]
3 Simona Halep [qualified]
4 Bianca Andreescu [qualified]
5 Naomi Osaka
6 Petra Kvitova
7 Elina Svitolina 3,995
8 Serena Williams 3,935
9 Kiki Bertens 3,870 [R2 Linz]
10 Belinda Bencic 3,705
The current scenario for Zhuhai: Race ranks 11-22
11 Johanna Konta 2,879
12 Sofia Kenin 2,615
13 Madison Keys 2,607
14 Aryna Sabalenka 2,520
15 Petra Martic 2,458
17 Angelique Kerber 2, 275
18 Elise Mertens 2,190
19 Alison Riske 2,185
20 Donna Vekic 2,185
21 Amanda Anisimova 1,794
22 Maria Sakkari 1,741