This season Li Na became the first Asian to win a Grand Slam, at the Australian Open she became the first Asian Grand Slam finalist, the Chinese 29-year-old also equaled the highest ranking ever for an Asian player in June and now she became the first player from her country to qualify for the $4,900,000 season-ending Championships, which will be held in Istanbul, Turkey, October 25-30.
Three more berths in the singles field are left in Istanbul, as Caroline Wozniacki, Maria Sharapova, Petra Kvitova and Victoria Azarenka have already qualified. Azarenka, the second seed at this week’s China Open, retired from the tournament in the third round against Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova with right foot injury. (photo: © Neal Trousdale)
