ST PETERSBURG, FL, USA – Simona Halep has secured the first qualification in singles for the 2018 BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global set to take place from October 21-28, 2018 with $7 million in prize money to be played for.

The WTA World No.1 will make her fifth consecutive appearance at the WTA Finals, and is the only player to have qualified for all five editions held in Singapore. On her debut in 2014, Halep reached the final, defeating then-World No.1 Serena Williams in the group stage before falling to the American in the championship match.

“It is such an honor to qualify again for the WTA Finals in Singapore,” said Halep. “I love coming to Singapore and I have so many great memories. I can’t wait to be back and play my best tennis in front of the amazing fans.”

Halep is riding a career-best season, lifting her maiden Grand Slam trophy at Roland Garros, where she defeated four Top 20 players en route to the title. The Romanian kicked off her 2018 season with a title sweep – in singles and doubles – at the Shenzhen Open and added her third title of the season at the Rogers Cup presented by National Bank in Montreal. She also reached the championship match two additional times this season at the Australian Open and Internazionali BNL d’Italia (Rome).

“Congratulations to Simona on qualifying for the BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global for her fifth time,” said WTA CEO and Chairman Steve Simon. “Simona has been one of the sport’s most consistent and leading performers over the last few years.  We look forward to seeing her in Singapore competing to hold the prestigious Billie Jean King Trophy.”

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 Slam 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.