Date: October 15, 2019
ZHUHAI, China – Following the qualification of Madison Keys, Sofia Kenin, Aryna Sabalenka and Petra Martic, three more players have qualified for the fifth edition of the Hengqin Life WTA Elite Trophy Zhuhai, which will be staged at Huafa Group’s Hengqin Tennis Center between October 22 -27.
Elise Mertens, who has been a mainstay at the top of the women’s game in recent years, has captured five singles titles and nine doubles titles throughout her established career. In 2019, the Belgian captured the biggest singles title of her career at Doha and advanced to the quarterfinals at the US Open. Additionally, she took home doubles titles at Indian Wells, Miami and the US Open.
Alison Riske has enjoyed plenty of success in China, reaching six of her nine career finals in this country, and picking up her maiden title at Tianjin in 2014. The American captured her second career title at s’Hertogenbosch this year prior to posting her best result at a Slam with a quarterfinal finish at Wimbledon. Most recently, Riske advanced to the finals of the Wuhan Open which helped her crack the Top 20 for the first time in her career.
Donna Vekic has produced a career year in 2019 in order to qualify for the Elite Trophy Zhuhai. The up-and-coming Croatian recorded two runner-up finishes at St. Petersburg and Nottingham prior to registering her career-best result at a major with a quarterfinal advancement at the US Open.
Following the withdrawals from Johanna Konta (knee injury), Angelique Kerber (leg injury) and Marketa Vondrousova (left wrist injury), four qualifying spots remain up for grabs in Zhuhai along with one wildcard.
The prize money of Hengqin Life WTA Elite Trophy Zhuhai will be increased to 2.4 million USD in 2019. Stefanie Graf, the tournament’s global ambassador in 2016, 2017 and 2018, will continue her global ambassadorship and has scheduled to come to Zhuhai and meet her fans again during the tournament week.
Situated in the Pearl River Delta, one of the most developed areas in China, Zhuhai enjoys a beautiful city view and the most convenient traffic. With the recently completed Hong Kong –Macau-Zhuhai sea bridge, it only takes 30 minutes by car from the airport of Hong Kong to reach the venue on Henqin Island in Zhuhai, right next door to Macau.
