Naomi Osaka Earns Career First Qualification at 2018 BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global
· US Open champion to make debut appearance at WTA Finals
· Becomes third-ever Japanese player to qualify, and first in 15 years
· Earns the third of eight singles spots at the year-end showpiece
ST PETERSBURG, FL, USA – The Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) announced today that Japan’s Naomi Osaka has qualified for the 2018 BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global, set to take place from October 21-28, 2018. She becomes the third player to secure her spot at the $7 million year-end event, joining Simona Halep and Angelique Kerber in the singles field with five more spots left for grabs.
Osaka has enjoyed a season of firsts in 2018, highlighted by clinching her maiden Grand Slam title at the US Open, defeating Serena Williams in the championship match. Earlier this season, she lifted her career first WTA title at the BNP Paribas Open (Indian Wells). Osaka also went on a 10-match winning streak between the US Open title and reaching her third final of the season at the Toray Pan Pacific Open (Tokyo).
In addition, Osaka reached the round of 16 at the Australian Open, semifinals at the Nature Valley Open (Nottingham) and the quarterfinals at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.
“Qualifying for the WTA Finals is a huge accomplishment,” said Osaka. “Winning the WTA Rising Stars Invitational in 2015 helped give me the confidence to play on the big stages so I am excited to go back to Singapore and compete with the top players of the season.”
In 2015, Osaka competed and won the 2015 WTA Rising Stars Invitational as part of the WTA Finals, introducing fans to the next generation of women’s tennis stars at the WTA’s biggest event of the year. In the final, Osaka defeated Caroline Garcia on the same stage as the Top 8 singles and doubles players competed for the WTA Finals trophies.
Osaka is set to make her debut appearance at the BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global, becoming the third-ever player from Japan to qualify for the year-end event, and first in 15 years when Ai Sugiyama did so in 2003.
Staged at the Singapore Sports Hub from October 21-28, the 2018 BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global is a 10-day tennis festival featuring the world’s best players vying for a US$7 million in prize money and two of the most prestigious titles in women’s tennis. The Top 8 singles players will compete in a round-robin format with the winner taking home the Billie Jean King Trophy. The Top 8 doubles teams will compete in a knock-out format for the WTA Finals Martina Navratilova Trophy.
The Porsche Race to Singapore Leaderboard is updated each Monday (every two weeks during Grand Slams events) and can be found at www.WTAFinals.com.
The winner of the Porsche Race to Singapore – the player who sits at No.1 in singles leading into the WTA Finals – will not only seal a spot at the season-ending showpiece, but also be congratulated with a new Porsche 718 Boxster GTS.
Tickets to the BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global are on sale at www.WTAFinals.com, an immersive one-stop destination for all things tournament-related, bringing fans the latest news from the top players on their journey on the Porsche Race to Singapore.
