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Tennis - Halep seals spot in WTA Finals

Reuters
  • Aug 12, 2018; Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Simona Halep of Romania cuddles her trophy as she win against Sloane Stephens of the United States (not pictured) during the Rogers Cup tennis tournament at Stade IGA. Credit: Jean-Yves Ahern-USA TODAY Sports
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    Tennis: Rogers Cup

    Aug 12, 2018; Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Simona Halep of Romania cuddles her trophy as she win against Sloane Stephens of the United States (not pictured) during the Rogers Cup tennis tournament at Stade IGA. Credit: Jean-Yves Ahern-USA TODAY Sports
    Reuters
  • Aug 12, 2018; Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Confetti falls on Simona Halep of Romania as she win against Sloane Stephens of the United States (not pictured) during the Rogers Cup tennis tournament at Stade IGA. Credit: Jean-Yves Ahern-USA TODAY Sports
    2/4

    Tennis: Rogers Cup

    Aug 12, 2018; Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Confetti falls on Simona Halep of Romania as she win against Sloane Stephens of the United States (not pictured) during the Rogers Cup tennis tournament at Stade IGA. Credit: Jean-Yves Ahern-USA TODAY Sports
    Reuters
  • Aug 12, 2018; Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Simona Halep of Romania applauds to the crowd as she wins against Sloane Stephens of the United States (not pictured) during the Rogers Cup tennis tournament at Stade IGA. Credit: Jean-Yves Ahern-USA TODAY Sports
    3/4

    Tennis: Rogers Cup

    Aug 12, 2018; Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Simona Halep of Romania applauds to the crowd as she wins against Sloane Stephens of the United States (not pictured) during the Rogers Cup tennis tournament at Stade IGA. Credit: Jean-Yves Ahern-USA TODAY Sports
    Reuters
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  • Aug 12, 2018; Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Simona Halep of Romania falls on her knees as she wins against Sloane Stephens of the United States (not pictured) during the Rogers Cup tennis tournament at Stade IGA. Credit: Jean-Yves Ahern-USA TODAY Sports
    4/4

    Tennis: Rogers Cup

    Aug 12, 2018; Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Simona Halep of Romania falls on her knees as she wins against Sloane Stephens of the United States (not pictured) during the Rogers Cup tennis tournament at Stade IGA. Credit: Jean-Yves Ahern-USA TODAY Sports
    Reuters
Aug 12, 2018; Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Simona Halep of Romania cuddles her trophy as she win against Sloane Stephens of the United States (not pictured) during the Rogers Cup tennis tournament at Stade IGA. Credit: Jean-Yves Ahern-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 12, 2018; Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Confetti falls on Simona Halep of Romania as she win against Sloane Stephens of the United States (not pictured) during the Rogers Cup tennis tournament at Stade IGA. Credit: Jean-Yves Ahern-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 12, 2018; Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Simona Halep of Romania applauds to the crowd as she wins against Sloane Stephens of the United States (not pictured) during the Rogers Cup tennis tournament at Stade IGA. Credit: Jean-Yves Ahern-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 12, 2018; Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Simona Halep of Romania falls on her knees as she wins against Sloane Stephens of the United States (not pictured) during the Rogers Cup tennis tournament at Stade IGA. Credit: Jean-Yves Ahern-USA TODAY Sports

(Reuters) - World number one Simona Halep became the first player to qualify for the season-ending WTA Finals in Singapore, the WTA said on Monday.

The Romanian is the only player to have qualified for all five editions of the event since it has been held in Singapore and will look to win the title for the first time. Halep was beaten in the 2014 final by American Serena Williams.

"Simona has been one of the sport's most consistent and leading performers over the last few years. We look forward to seeing her competing to hold the prestigious Billie Jean King Trophy," WTA CEO and chairman Steve Simon said.

The top eight singles players at the $7 million prize money event will face off in a round-robin format.

Halep won her maiden grand slam trophy at the French Open this year and claimed her third title of the season at the Rogers Cup by beating Sloane Stephens in the final on Sunday.

The WTA Finals will take place from Oct. 21-28.

(Reporting by Shrivathsa Sridhar in Bengaluru, editing by Ed Osmond)