Tianjin stars to face each other, tennis greats in Zhuhai

Chinese players Wang Qiang and Zhang Shuai, both of Tianjin, will face off in the singles draw for the first time during the fourth edition of WTA Elite Trophy Zhuhai. They can expect stiff competition from aces such as Spain's two-time Grand Slam champion, Garbine Muguruza.

The season-ending tournament in Hengqin New Area from Oct 30 to Nov 4 has announced its full lineup.

Eleven contestants are 9th to 19th on the final table of the WTA rankings. They include Wang, China's top female player who reached a career-high world ranking of #22 and qualified with big champion points. Wang became the first Chinese player to attain such status since the tournament's debut in 2015. Also competing is Zhang, who enters the event as a wildcard.

Full lineup [Photo courtesy wtaelitetrophy.com]

Joining the prominent list of players at the Hengqin International Tennis Center are 2017 US Open runner-up Madison Keys and defending champion Julia Goerges.

The field also includes world #10 Daria Kasatkina of Russia, #11 Anastasija Sevastova from Latvia but of Russian origin, Russia's #12 Aryna Sabalenka, #14 Elise Mertens of Belgium, #16 Caroline Garcia of France, #19 Ashleigh Barty of Australia, and #20 Anett Kontaveit of Estonia.

The players will compete in four round-robin groups of three, with the winners of each advancing to the semifinals. The six doubles teams will be split into two round robins, with the winner of each advancing to the final.

Players that have qualified are among the best in the world, and they will compete at their highest level. Great tennis is guaranteed for all fans whether in the stands or at home and no matter their country, according to Tournament Director Jose Miguel Garcia.