Elite tennis players have been named as initial qualifiers for the Oct 22-27 Hengqin Life WTA Elite Trophy Zhuhai, which will take place at Hengqin International Tennis Center (横琴国际网球中心).

The Zhuhai competitors will all have scored WTA rankings between 9th and 19th by the end of this year. The first to qualify are Johanna Konta from the UK, Aryna Sabalenka from Belarus, Madison Keys and Sofia Kenin from the US, and Petra Martic from Croatia. 

Of the five, Konta, Sabalenka, and Keys are regular visitors to the city. In particular, Keys will be taking part in the event for the third time in her career, making it to the first WTA Elite Trophy Zhuhai in 2015 due to an outstanding performance throughout the year in the US.

Five qualifiers [Photo courtesy Zhuhai Daily]

This year marks the fifth edition of the Zhuhai event. German tennis legend Steffi Graf continues to be the spokesperson. A winner of 22 major singles titles, she is the only player to win the "Golden Grand Slam", which signifies winning all four Grand Slam tournaments in a calendar year.

Over the past four years, Graf has promoted Zhuhai's iconic features like the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, Zhuhai Center Tower, and China's AG600 amphibious aircraft. She has been dedicated to spreading Zhuhai's urban culture, as well as Chinese innovation and technologies to the world, bolstering the city's image on the global stage.

As the event draws near, a number of non-profit activities are in full swing to promote tennis in schools and communities, as well as selecting potential tennis stars.

In addition to these activities for the public, the 2019 Hengqin Life WTA Elite Trophy Zhuhai has "new products" like free tickets for students, senior citizens, and teachers. A limited number of discounted tickets will be offered to other spectators.