ST PETERSBURG, FL, USA – 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.
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.
Below is the current Road to Singapore Singles Leaderboard (as of Monday, August 31):
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.
Below is the current Road to Singapore Singles Leaderboard (as of Monday, August 31):
The leaderboard is updated each Monday (every two weeks during Grand Slam events) and can be found at www.wtafinals.com.
The doubles teams of Martina Hingis/Sania Mirza and Bethanie Mattek-Sands/Lucie Safarova have also qualified for the BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global in the 8-team doubles competition.
Last year, new milestones were set at the WTA Finals with record highs for attendance, TV viewing and online audiences as fans from around the world traveled to Singapore and tuned in to the exciting 10-day sport entertainment extravaganza showcasing the world’s best female athletes. The event attracted 129,000 spectators, including 93,000 fans who attended matches at the Singapore Sports Hub, through the 10 days of on- and off-court sport and entertainment in the stadium, as well as the fan festival which offered free access to the public.
In 2015, fans and spectators of the WTA Finals can expect the WTA to amplify engagement efforts by building a deeper connection with the fan base, delivering richer, more compelling digital content and creating money-can’t-buy experiences – all in an effort to become the most fan-friendly sport entertainment experience on earth.
Tickets for the general public start at S$16.90 and can be purchased through Sports Hub Tix www.sportshub.com.sg/WTAFinals, the official ticketing partner of the 2015 BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global. Log on to the WTA Finals website www.WTAFinals.com for more information and follow on Twitter (@WTAFinalsSG) and Facebook (facebook.com/WTAFinalsSG)
The doubles teams of Martina Hingis/Sania Mirza and Bethanie Mattek-Sands/Lucie Safarova have also qualified for the BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global in the 8-team doubles competition.
Last year, new milestones were set at the WTA Finals with record highs for attendance, TV viewing and online audiences as fans from around the world traveled to Singapore and tuned in to the exciting 10-day sport entertainment extravaganza showcasing the world’s best female athletes. The event attracted 129,000 spectators, including 93,000 fans who attended matches at the Singapore Sports Hub, through the 10 days of on- and off-court sport and entertainment in the stadium, as well as the fan festival which offered free access to the public.
In 2015, fans and spectators of the WTA Finals can expect the WTA to amplify engagement efforts by building a deeper connection with the fan base, delivering richer, more compelling digital content and creating money-can’t-buy experiences – all in an effort to become the most fan-friendly sport entertainment experience on earth.
Tickets for the general public start at S$16.90 and can be purchased through Sports Hub Tix www.sportshub.com.sg/WTAFinals, the official ticketing partner of the 2015 BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global. Log on to the WTA Finals website www.WTAFinals.com for more information and follow on Twitter (@WTAFinalsSG) and Facebook (facebook.com/WTAFinalsSG)
By: Editor
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