Pliskova qualifies for WTA Finals in Shenzhen

[September 16, 2019]  (Reuters) - World number two Karolina Pliskova has become the second singles player to qualify for the season-ending WTA Finals in Shenzhen after top-ranked Ash Barty, the WTA Tour said on Monday.

The 27-year-old Czech won the inaugural Zhengzhou Open on Sunday, adding to trophies won in Brisbane, Rome and Eastbourne, and will make her fourth appearance in the Oct. 27-Nov. 3 Finals which offer $14 million in prize money.

"It's always a goal of mine to qualify for the WTA Finals, and I'm proud to have done it for my fourth time. I look forward to competing against the best players of the season," Pliskova told the WTA website https://www.wtatennis.com/news/karolina-pliskova-secures-qualification-2019-shiseido-wta-finals-shenzhen.

The big-serving Czech reached the semi-finals of the last two editions of the tournament held in Singapore, losing to eventual winner Caroline Wozniacki in 2017 and runnerup Sloane Stephens last year.

Karolina Pliskova of the Czech Republic hits to Johanna Konta of Great Britain in a fourth round match on day seven of the 2019 US Open tennis tournament at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Mandatory Credit: Danielle Parhizkaran-USA TODAY Sports

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

(Reporting by Shrivathsa Sridhar in Bengaluru; Editing by Ian Ransom)

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