Kvitova qualifies for WTA Finals in Shenzhen

[October 07, 2019]    (Reuters) - World number seven Petra Kvitova has become the sixth player to qualify for the season-ending WTA Finals in Shenzhen, the WTA said on Monday.

 Czech Republic's Petra Kvitova in action against Ashleigh Barty of Australia. REUTERS/Jason Lee

The 29-year-old Czech, who won the title on her debut in 2011, will join Ash Barty, Karolina Pliskova, Simona Halep, Bianca Andreescu and Naomi Osaka at the Oct. 27-Nov. 3 tournament, which offers $14 million in prize money.

"I'm so happy to qualify," Kvitova, who won titles in Sydney and Stuttgart and finished runner-up at the Australian Open this year, said in a statement https://www.wtatennis.com/news/kvitova-chan-chan-stosur-zhang-qualify-2019-shiseido-wta-finals-shenzhen?utm_source=t.co&utm_medium=referral.

"After a great start to the year in Australia I'm really proud to have secured my spot for the seventh time. This will be the third city I have visited for the WTA Finals so I'm excited to see what's in store in Shenzhen."

The top eight singles players face off in a round-robin format at the WTA Finals, with the winner taking home the Billie Jean King Trophy.

(Reporting by Shrivathsa Sridhar in Bengaluru; Editing by Simon Jennings)

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