Li Na qualifies for WTA Championships

Li Na on Friday became the fifth player to qualify for the US$6 million end-of-season grand finale, organisers said, as China’s top player prepares for her home country’s premier tennis tournament.

The world number five booked her place in next month’s WTA Championships in Istanbul featuring the top eight women’s players, the tennis organisation announced on its website.

The 31-year-old’s inclusion in the tournament comes after a surge in form which has seen her become the first Asian player to reach the US Open semi-finals earlier this month.

The announcement was made before the 2011 French Open winner had even hit a ball at the China Open, where qualifying matches are currently being played.

Asia’s first singles Grand Slam winner has qualified for the WTA Championships for the last two seasons, having finished 2011 ranked fifth and last year seventh.

“I’m so happy to have qualified again,” Li said, on the WTA’s website.