ZHUHAI, October 11, 2017 (Press Release)
China’s No.1 player Shuai Peng has been awarded a wildcard into this month’s WTA Elite Trophy Zhuhai, joining what promises to be star-studded field for the season-ending tennis showcase, which begins on October 31.
The latest updated Shine in Zhuhai Leaderboard features some of the biggest names in women’s tennis, all aiming to end their season on a high by qualifying for the year-end event. Peng’s wildcard means that there are now only 11 places left in the singles field. Grand Slam champions Svetlana Kuznetsova, Sloane Stephens (who won this year’s US Open) and Angelique Kerber are all in the running to compete in the coastal Chinese city.
Shaui Peng came to Zhuhai in 2016 as a singles alternate. 2017 will mark her first competitive outing.
Johanna Konta currently heads the Zhuhai field, with Kristina Mladenovic, Kuznetsova, Coco Vandeweghe, Stephens, Anastasia Sevastova, Madison Keys, Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, Elena Vesnina, Kerber and Australian Ashleigh Barty occupying the rest of the 11 available qualifying spots.
The Shine In Zhuhai Leaderboard is made up of players ranked nine and above based on this year’s results, plus Shuai Peng as a wildcard entrant. The singles line-up in Zhuhai will be decided finally on 24th October, when the last ball of the regular WTA season is struck, thus paving the way for the WTA Finals in Singapore and WTA Elite Trophy Zhuhai season-ending showcases.
Shuai Peng said:
“I’d like to thank the tournament for this opportunity. It will be my first time competing in Zhuhai and I am really looking forward to playing at this great event. It is a great honour for me that I will be able to represent China at the tournament and play in front of the Chinese fans and I will give my best on court. I am motivated to do really well and I can’t wait to see you all in Zhuhai.”
WTA Elite Trophy Tournament Director Jose Miguel Garcia said:
“We’re thrilled to welcome Shuai Peng for what will be her first time competing in singles at the WTA Elite Trophy Zhuhai. She’s had a fantastic year and this is recognition of that. It will be great for the home crowd to have a local player to get behind and cheer.”
