Australia, 17 October 2023 | Leigh Rogers

For the first time in 17 years, two doubles teams featuring Australian players have qualified for the prestigious WTA Finals.

Only the eight best-performing teams of the season qualify for the WTA Finals, which will be played in the Mexican city of Cancun from 29 October – 5 November.

Storm Hunter is set to compete at the season-ending championships for the first time in her career, after qualifying alongside Belgian partner Elise Mertens.

The duo teamed up for the first time in January and have proven one of the world’s most consistent teams. They won two WTA 1000 titles – at Rome in May and Guadalajara in September – and were finalists at Wimbledon.

Ellen Perez and American partner Nicole Melichar-Martinez have also secured a spot in this year’s WTA Finals field.

After attending last year’s event as alternates, 27-year-old Perez and Melichar-Martinez enjoyed a another solid season. They advanced to four finals, including at the WTA 1000 event in Cincinnati, and made a semifinal appearance at Roland Garros.

The eighth and final team to qualify will be decided this week.

> VIEW: WTA doubles race

The 29-year-old Hunter, who has soared to a career-high world No.2 this season, is also in contention to finish the season atop of the WTA Tour rankings.

Sam Stosur is the only Australian woman to ever achieve this feat, ending the 2006 season as world No.1.

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