This week’s WTA tournament in Moscow has been a revolving door of entries and withdrawals as top players scramble to qualify for the WTA Finals in Singapore. Players still in contention like Flavia Pennetta and Karolina Pliskova took wild cards into the event, while those no longer in the running, like Caroline Wozniacki, withdrew.
Agnieszka Radwanska had entered the tournament, but qualified for the WTA Finals with a title in Tianjin and subsequently withdrew from Moscow, citing a shoulder injury. Angelique Kerber could have qualified for the WTA Finals with a win in the Hong Kong final, but despite losing the match, also withdrew from Moscow. At No. 6, she is still well-positioned to qualify for Singapore.
There are nevertheless four players in contention for the WTA Finals playing in Moscow: No. 7 Pennetta, No. 8 Lucie Safarova, No. 11 Carla Suarez Navarro, and No. 12 Pliskova.
According to the WTA, Suarez Navarro must reach the final and Pliskova win the tournament for either to move into the top eight positions.