US Open winner Sloane Stephens is unlikely to participate in the WTA finals in Singapore.The US-American does not receive a wildcard from the organizers.
At least two out of four major winners will be missing from the Singapore season finale.In addition to Melbourne Queen Serena Williams, who is currently doing her maternal duty, Sloane Stephens will not be in the top eight at the tournament.
The US Open Champion, currently ranked 13th in the Race to Singapore, has only registered for the WTA International Tournament in Honkong.So she can’t collect enough points on her own to make it to the finals.
However, a special arrangement could have helped: in addition to the top 7, the WTA has the option of awarding a wildcard to a player who has won a Grand Slam tournament this season, but has not been able to collect enough points for the direct qualification.
“This rule is not being applied,” said a spokesman for the WTA Tour to Sportinglife,”only the players who have enough points in the Porsche Race to Singapore qualify for the finals.
Wimbledon winner Garbine Muguruza and French Open Champion Jelena Ostapenko have already secured their place.Simona Halep, Karolina Pliskova, Elina Svitolina, Venus Williams and Caroline Wozniacki are also part of the Singapore team.