With one week to go until the Formula One circus hits the Singapore streets another major sporting event that is now established in the city-state is taking shape.
The Women’s Tennis Association announced today that World No.2 Simona Halep has qualified for the BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global for the second consecutive year. She joins World No.1 Serena Williams in the singles field of eight, with six more spots yet to be determined.
Halep will be making her second consecutive appearance at the WTA Finals, after reaching the final in 2014. The Romanian fan-favorite finished at the top of the Red Group in 2014 with a 2-1 record, which included a statement 60 62 win over World No.1 and eventual champion Serena Williams. Halep defeated Agnieszka Radwanska in the semifinals and ultimately finished runner-up in a rematch against Williams in the final.
“Congratulations to Simona for once again qualifying for the BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global,” said Stacey Allaster, WTA Chairman and CEO. “Simona has backed up last year’s breakout season with yet another stellar year on the Road to Singapore. Her exciting tennis inspires fans across the globe – especially those from her home country of Romania – to support her on court. We are thrilled to once again welcome her to Singapore and bring those fans along for the ride, whether at the Singapore Sports Hub or on TV in their homes.”
Halep’s season has been highlighted by three WTA titles: her biggest to-date at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, along with the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships and Shenzhen Open. The Romanian also reached the final at the Rogers Cup in Toronto and Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati and the semifinals at the Miami Open and Internazionali BNL d’Italia in Rome.
“I am so happy to have qualified for the WTA Finals in Singapore again, as it has been one of my goals for this year,” said Halep. “Last year at the WTA Finals I had a great result, reaching the final and beating Serena in the group stage, and I will try my best to do even better this year. I have had a great season so far with many fans supporting me around the world and I hope to see many more fans this October in Singapore.”
Staged at the Singapore Sports Hub from October 23-November 1 in partnership with World Sport Group (WSG), the 2015 WTA Finals features the Top 8 singles players competing for one of the most prestigious trophies in women’s tennis, the Billie Jean King Trophy, while the Top 8 doubles teams will compete for the Martina Navratilova WTA Finals Doubles Trophy. With a record $7 million in prize money on the line, the round-robin singles competition will be the highlight of a 10-day tennis festival that will also include the WTA Legends Classic, WTA Rising Stars Invitational and a WTA Future Stars event.
