Swiatek, Muguruza and Badosa secure qualification for 2021 Akron WTA Finals Guadalajara

ST PETERSBURG, Fla. – The WTA introduced Monday that Iga Swiatek, Garbiñe Muguruza and Paula Badosa have certified for the 2021 Akron WTA Finals Guadalajara.

The trio will be part of Aryna Sabalenka, Barbora Krejcikova, Karolina Pliskova and Maria Sakkari within the singles subject, leaving one qualification place remaining following Ashleigh Barty’s withdrawal.

5 of the eight doubles groups have additionally confirmed their attendance in Guadalajara, which embrace Krejcikova and Katerina Siniakova, Shuko Aoyama and Ena Shibahara, Hsieh Su-Wei and Elise Mertens, Nicole Melichar-Sanchez and Demi Schuurs, and Samantha Stosur and Zhang Shuai.

Swiatek shall be making her debut look on the WTA Finals and is the primary Polish lady to qualify since Agnieszka Radwanska in 2016. She has gained two titles this season, on the Adelaide Worldwide in February and the Internazionali BNL d’Italia (Rome) on clay in Might. Following her semifinal run on the J&T Banka Ostrava Open in September, she reached a brand new career-high rating of No.4. Swiatek additional boosted her qualification possibilities by constant performances in any respect the Grand Slams, making a minimum of the Spherical of 16 at every of the majors this yr.

Muguruza is about to look on the WTA Finals in singles for the fourth time, along with her finest outcome approaching her debut in 2015, the place she posted an ideal 3-0 document within the group stage earlier than falling to eventual champion Agnieszka Radwanska within the semifinals. She contested the group stage once more in 2016 and 2017 and has additionally certified in doubles twice with compatriot Carla Suárez Navarro, in 2014 after which once more 2015 the place the group completed as runners-up.

Muguruza has reached 4 finals throughout the 2021 season, lifting the title on the Dubai Obligation Free Tennis Championships (her largest title since profitable the Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati in 2017) and the Chicago Fall Tennis Basic. She kicked off the season in sturdy style with a runner-up end on the Yarra Valley Basic in Melbourne in February and in addition reached the ultimate on the Qatar Whole Open in Doha.

Becoming a member of Swiatek in making her debut the WTA Finals this yr is Spain’s Paula Badosa, and with compatriot Muguruza additionally showing in Guadalajara, this marks the primary time two Spanish ladies have certified in singles in the identical yr since 2000 (Conchita Martínez and Arantxa Sánchez Vicario).

Badosa has loved a breakout yr in 2021, profitable the largest title of her profession on the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells earlier this month and incomes a brand new career-high rating of No.13 within the course of. She gained her first WTA title in Might on the Serbia Women Open in Belgrade and reached the semifinal stage on the Open 6ème Sens Métropole de Lyon, Credit score One Charleston Open (together with defeating World No.1 Barty within the quarterfinals) and at her residence match on the Mutua Madrid Open. Badosa additionally posted her finest Grand Slam outcome this season, reaching the final eight at Roland Garros.

Guadalajara is enjoying host to the season-ending match for this yr solely, with the occasion returning to its residence in Shenzhen, China in 2022.

The 2021 WTA Finals options the High 8 singles gamers and doubles groups on the Porsche Race to the WTA Finals – which incorporates 50 WTA tournaments and 4 Grand Slams, competing in a round-robin format with the singles champion lifting the WTA Finals Billie Jean King Trophy and the doubles champions incomes the WTA Finals Martina Navratilova Trophy.

The Porsche Race to the WTA Finals Leaderboard is up to date every Monday and may be discovered right here.