We are all set for the WTA finals in Shenzen.  After a 5-year run in Singapore, the tournament moves where all WTA tournaments are headed to these days – China.

Will Naomi Osaka find the form that won her the Australian Open?  Will Bianca Andreescu continue her hot run that won her the US Open?  With 4 players winning 4 grand slams, we have a tournament so open that any of the eight players could win it.

The last four winner of this year-end tournament are Agnieszka Radwanska, Dominika Cibulkova, Caroline Wozniacki and Evitolina Svitolina.  So don’t be surprised if Belinda Bencic or Karolina Pliskova win it this year.

The prize money for the tournament is$14 million with the winner taking home $3.45 million.

Barty on the verge of creating history

Ashleigh Barty on the brink of securing the year-end No.1. Barty could become first Australian to finish year-end  number one on the WTA tour.

To clinch the number 1 spot, Barty must either win one of her first two round-robin matches or simply play all three round-robin matches.

Groups for round robin play

Red Group:

Purple Group:

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.