01 October 2019

Grand Slam champions Halep and Andreescu join WTA finals line up

Simona Halep and Bianca Andreescu are the latest two names to qualify for the Shisedo WTA Tour finals in Shenzhen. They join Ashleigh Barty and Karolina Pliskova, meaning there are now just four spots to be claimed.

Both women claimed Grand Slam titles each denying Serena Williams her elusive 24th title when they defeated her in their respective finals.

Wimbledon champion Halep is no stranger to the WTA Finals and 2019 will be her fifth year in the tournament. Her best result was reaching the final in 2014 having recorded a staggering 6-0 6-2 win over then World No 1 Serena Williams in the round robin stage. Four days later, the big hitting American turned the tables and beat the Romanian 6-3 6-0 in the final.

She sat out last year's finals with a back injury but is now looking to improve on her 6-8 record at the event.

“It is always a goal of mine each season to qualify and I’m excited to play the event this year," she said.

"I have been to Shenzhen before so I’m looking forward to being back in front of the great fans there.”

Halep won her second Grand Slam title when she won Wimbledon this year (PA Images)

It will be a different experience for 19-year-old Andreescu as she is playing in her first WTA Finals after a breakthrough year that saw her win her first Grand Slam at the US Open. In doing so she became the first Canadian player to win a Slam.

Bianca Andreescu defeated Serena Williams to win her first Grand Slam title at Flushing Meadows (PA Images)

Naomi Osaka, Elena Svitolina, Petra Kvitova, Kiki Bertens and Belinda Bencic are battling it out to earn the points to get them to Shenzhen.

The Shiseido WTA Finals Shenzhen runs from October 27 to November 3.

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