what is the qualification criteria for doubles again :scratch:
are those doubles only teams just teams that "committed" to play?
Doubles Competition
The doubles competition is a draw of six (6) teams in a round robin format, with two (2) groups of three (3) teams with the winner from each group qualifying for a single-elimination-format final. The competition scoring is the best of three (3) sets with no-ad scoring in the first two (2) sets and a 10-point match tie-break as the third set.
Qualified Players – Doubles Teams The entry deadline for the WTA Elite Trophy doubles competition is 12:00 p.m. Eastern Time (New York, USA Time) on Tuesday, October 15th. Participation in the doubles competition is optional. Players can enter by contacting WTA Operations or on-site via a WTA Supervisor. Acceptance of teams will be based on the WTA Rankings of October 21st and the following composition of teams:
(a) two (2) teams based on highest combined doubles ranking;
(b) two (2) teams composed of at least one WTA Elite Trophy Singles Qualified or Alternate player and based on the players’ highest combined singles or doubles rankings.
A player who competes in the singles or doubles competition of the WTA Finals is not eligible to play in the doubles competition of the WTA Elite Trophy.
A player may not use her Special Ranking to enter the doubles competition.
Alternate Players – Doubles Teams Any teams that enter the WTA Elite Trophy and are not accepted into the competition automatically become Alternate Teams. Alternate Teams that include at least one (1) Singles Qualified Player or Alternate receive priority in moving into the competition. If any Qualified Team withdraws before 12:00 p.m. Eastern Time (New York, USA Time) on Friday, October 18th, then the next team on the Alternate List moves into the open spot in order of (a) the higher of the players’ combined singles or doubles rankings; or (b) the players’ combined doubles rankings. If a Qualified Team withdraws after 12:00 p.m. Eastern Time (New York, USA Time) on Friday, October 18th, the open spot(s) will be filled by teams that sign-in on site in order of the players’ combined singles or doubles rankings. If there are no Alternate Teams or no team signs up on site, then the Promoter may nominate WTA Elite Trophy Alternate Teams as necessary.
Wild Cards – Doubles The Promoter may nominate two (2) Wild Card teams who did not qualify for the WTA Finals or WTA Elite Trophy. The Promoter and teams must provide written confirmation to WTA Operations before 12:00 p.m. Eastern Time (New York, USA Time) on Tuesday, October 15th.
Notification - When a player qualifies or a team is accepted into the WTA Elite Trophy, she or they will receive an official notification from WTA Operations. Additionally, WTA Communications will contact her or them immediately to coordinate media announcements, and WTA Player Relations will contact her or them to organize hotel, travel, and visa arrangements.
Draw - All six (6) Teams are seeded with two (2) round robin groups in the doubles draw. Seed 1 is placed in Group A and seed 2 in Group B, and the remaining seeds are randomly drawn in pairs, with the first drawn seed placed in Group A and the second drawn seed placed in Group B. The winners of the round robin competition groups advance to the final.