TOKYO - Naomi Osaka (JPN) has qualified for the Shiseido WTA Finals in Shenzhen. Currently ranked No. 4 in the world, Osaka secured her spot at the year-end championship with a three-set victory over Bianca Andreescu in the quarterfinals at the China Open.
Now, three spots remain in the Race to Shenzhen, after Osaka joined Ashleigh Barty, Karolina Pliskova, Simona Halep, and Andreescu who had qualified previously.
Osaka’s 2019 began with a bang, as she became the first Japanese player - male or female - to sit atop the world rankings after winning her second consecutive Grand Slam at the Australian Open.
Having never dropped out of the top-5 all year, Osaka regained her winning ways in her birthplace of Osaka, Japan last month, taking the Toray Pan Pacific Open title without dropping a set. She then won her 10th-straight match and second consecutive title of the Asia Swing with a come-from-behind victory over Barty in the China Open finals.
This will be Osaka’s second consecutive appearance at the WTA Finals, where a combined $14 million is on the line making it the largest prize money offering in the history of men’s and women’s professional tennis.
The round-robin-style event runs from Oct. 27 - Nov. 3.