By Britwatch Team

By Britwatch Team

• Top Seeds: Simona Halep, Garbiñe Muguruza, Karolina Pliskova, Elina Svitolina
• 2016 Champion: Dominika Cibulkova
• CLICK our featured players for stats from TennisAbstract

SINGAPORE – The scene is set for the season-ending showdown with the WTA top eight women battling out for the WTA Finals trophy, with seven players in contention for the year-ending World No. 1 spot

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Tournament Fast Facts

Draw & Results

[1] Simona Halep

Simona Halep 2017 (c) Jimmie48 Tennis Photography

The incumbent World No.1 comes in as one of the front-runners for the chase to end the year at the top of the tree, and reached the final on her first time out in 2014. She stunned the then top seed and World No. 1 Serena Williams in the round robin stage, before facing her in the final.

The last two years however have seen her halted at the group stages, but in a year that saw her reach the Roland Garros final for the second time, not to mention three shots this year alone at the World No. 1 spot, she ought to come in riding high on confidence, having won the Porsche Race to Singapore.

[2] Garbiñe Muguruza

BIRMINGHAM, GREAT BRITAIN – JUNE 23 : Garbine Muguruza the 2017 Aegon Classic WTA Premier tennis tournament

Appearing in the WTA Finals for the third straight year, Muguruza coasted to the semi-finals on her debut in 2015, but fell short of the mark last year, going out at the end of the group stages.

It feels like it has been a tale of two years for Muguruza – she seemed to struggle with the weight of expectation as the pressure built for her to defend her title at Roland Garros, before going on to win Wimbledon on her second attempt.

She ascended to the World No. 1 after the US Open, only to lose the top spot to Halep, after Beijing, and she is one of the favourites to reclaim the title, just 40 points behind Halep.

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[3] Karolina Pliskova

Karolina Pliskova © Jimmie48 Photography

Another of the challengers for the season ending No. 1 spot, Pliskova made her debut at the WTA Finals last year, but struggled with a tough opening match and a late finish. Coming back, she feels she is more used to the format, and has a season that seen her gain the top spot, and relinquish it.

[4] Elina Svitolina

Elina Svitolina (c) Jimmie48 Tennis Photography

Making her debut in Singapore, Svitolina is arguably the most consistent in terms of titles won, with five in 2017, and although the results have not gone her way where the Slams are concerned, she also still finds herself in the position of contending for the top spot as well.

The WTA Finals take place between the 22-29 October.

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Main Image: Jimmie48 Tennis Photography