US Open champion Emma Raducanu could be a surprise inclusion in in the end-of-season WTA finals in Mexico.
Raducanu, who has only played four tournaments at WTA Tour level this year, could leap into the top 20 if she wins a couple of rounds at the upcoming Indian Wells event in California next month.
She is currently ranked at No.22 in the latest WTA standings.
The eight players that collect the most points in this calendar year will play in the WTA finals.
Current world No.1 Ash Barty took home $4.42 million after she won in 2019.
But Barty’s manager has recently suggested the Wimbledon champion may not play at the 2021 event, which was moved to Mexico from China because of the covid pandemic.
Strict Australian quarantine rules would mean Barty would have to isolate for 2 weeks on her return to Queensland before planning for the Australian Open in January.
Raducanu currently sits in 14th place in the WTA points table for 2021 and a good run at Indian Wells could give her a chance to edge into contention.
World No.2 Aryna Sabalenka and French Open winner Barbora Krejcikova have already qualified for the WTA finals.
