The eight spots for the Shiseido WTA Finals in Shenzhen are now set.  By reaching the finals of the VTB Kremlin Cup (Bencic would go on to win the title). Belinda Bencic takes the last spots.

The eight players in the year-ending championship include Belinda Bencic, Ashleigh Barty, Karolina Pliskova, Simona Halep, Bianca Andreescu, Naomi Osaka, Petra Kvitova and Elina Svitolina.

The top 8 singles players and doubles teams  will compete in a round-robin format. The singles winner will lift the Billie Jean King Trophy and the doubles champions  will win the Martina Navratilova Trophy.

In addition to the Shiseido WTA Finals in Shenzhen, WTA also conducts the second-tier WTA Elite tournament for players who didn’t make the cut to the WTA finals.

The USTA today announced that Michael Dowse, President of Wilson Sporting Goods Co., has been named Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director of the United States Tennis Association. Dowse will work out of the USTA National Campus in the Lake Nona neighborhood of Orlando, Florida.

In his role, Dowse will be responsible for leading  the USTA’s overall vision and its strategy for the growth of tennis participation with juniors and adults at all levels, while also ensuring diversity throughout the sport.

Dowse served as President of Wilson since 2013. He was responsible for the company’s global strategy, corporate operations and manufacturing across more than 160 countries.

“Michael’s experience as a proven industry executive and his long history with our sport make him the ideal candidate for this position,” said Patrick Galbraith, USTA Chairman of the Board and President. “The USTA is poised for growth, and we believe Michael will be the catalyst we need.”