Simona Halep qualifies for WTA Finals Singapore

Romania’s Simona Halep has qualified for the year-end WTA Finals Singapore, the third player to do so in this elite eight-woman singles event that will take place on October.

After a stellar 2013 season which saw her win six titles and starting this season on a strong note, Halep’s ranking rose to a career-high number two and she has garnered enough ranking points to qualify for the prestigious year-end championships for the first time.

Halep posted career-best finishes in the first three Grand Slam tournaments of the season – quarterfinals at Australian Open, final at Roland Garros and semifinals at Wimbledon. She also won two titles this year in Doha and Bucharest. She started the year ranked 11th and she’s now the second best player in the world, just behind current world number one Serena Williams.

“It has always been a dream of mine to compete in the WTA Finals,” Halep said. “I’ve had great success this year, and I’m looking forward to competing against the best players in the world in Singapore.”

“Simona Halep’s ascent over the last couple of years has been incredible, and she has become one of the elite players in the game,” WTA Chairman & CEO Stacey Allaster said. “As the countdown to Singapore continues, the Asian swing is an exciting time on the Road To Singapore as the picture becomes more clear about who will be competing on the ultimate stage for women’s tennis.”

Halep is just the third Romanian to qualify at the WTA Finals. The first two were Virginia Ruzici (her current manager) and Irina Spirlea.

The first two qualifiers were Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova.