SINGAPORE -- Madison Keys is the first American other than Serena and Venus Williams to earn a berth at the year-end WTA Finals in more than a decade.The last American outside of a Williams at the finals was Lindsay Davenport, a former coach to Keys, in 2005.Keys debut in the WTA Finals, starting on Sunday, came courtesy of her winning a second career title in Birmingham, England, and reaching finals at Rome and Montreal.She also played in the Olympic semifinals, losing to Petra Kvitova for the bronze medal.Being here is a huge accomplishment for me, Keys said. I definitely want to ... prove that Ive worked really hard to get here, and Im here for a reason.Keys, who climbed into the top-10 rankings at No. 7 this month, is also the first American to debut in the top 10 since Serena Williams in 1999.That (fact) was definitely really surprising, Keys said. There have been a lot of great American players who I thought had made it, but obviously not.Second-ranked Serena Williams pulled out of the finals for the second consecutive year. She won the title in 2014, the first year the event moved to Singapore. Williams hasnt played since a U.S. Open semifinal loss to Karolina Pliskova, and cited a persistent right shoulder injury.Keys will face Simona Halep in her first of three round-robin matches on Sunday. They are in the Red Group along with world No. 1 Angelique Kerber and Dominika Cibulkova.The White Group consists of defending champion Agnieszka Radwanska, French Open champion Garbine Muguruza, U.S. Open finalist Pliskova, and Svetlana Kuznetsova.Kuznetsova, a two-time Grand Slam singles winner, won the Kremlin Cup in Moscow on Saturday to take the last spot, and qualify for her first finals since 2009.Kerber overtook Williams for the No. 1 ranking after she won the U.S. Open last month, her second career Grand Slam title. In January, Kerber upset Williams in the Australian Open final.Kerber, the first German woman since Steffi Graf to attain the top ranking, also won the Olympic silver medal in Rio.As a player, I change a lot, Kerber said of the season. I have much more confidence right now. I know how to play the big tournaments. Also, mentally, how to win really tough matches in tough situations or like playing finals in big tournaments, big stages.She didnt advance from the round-robin in three previous WTA Finals.Radwanska arrived in Singapore to defend her title after winning three tournaments this year -- Shenzhen, New Haven, and Beijing.There is always a little bit more pressure when you really have to defend a big title, a lot of points, Radwanska said. But on the other hand, when youre top five, top 10, you are pretty much defending (points) every week. Cheap Air Max 97 Wholesale . Roman Josi had a goal and an assist to lead the Predators to a 4-1 victory over the Dallas Stars on Monday night. Nike Air Max 270 Cheap Uk . But Bourque, who has missed three games with a lower-body injury, wont be in the lineup when the Habs travel to Buffalo to take on the Sabres on Wednesday. http://www.fakeairmaxukoutlet.com/best-max-720-trainers-cheap-uk.html . Pierce was ejected in the third quarter of Indianas 103-86 win Monday. George Hill stole a bad pass and was going in for a layup, and Pierce hustled back and appeared to be trying to wrap him up. Fake Air Max 97 For Sale . LOUIS -- St. Discount Air Max 200 . With the first unit struggling of late and Amir Johnson - one of the teams iron men - hobbling on an injured right ankle, Patterson knew he could get the nod in a challenging matchup against one of the leagues up and coming players at his position. The Crusaders will be without Test pair Nemani Nadolo and Joe Moody for their Super Rugby quarter-final against the Lions but there is better news for other ailing players.The Crusaders must travel to Johannesburg to face the Lions after picking up the third and final wildcard spot in the Australasian group following a 35-10 home loss to the Hurricanes on Saturday.Victory would have put the seven-time champion Crusaders on top of the table.Instead they must beat the African group champions on Saturday and then win a semi-final somewhere on the road if they are to have any chance of snaring an eighth title.Bulldozing Fijian winger Nadolo wont be on the plane on Monday after pulling a hamstring against the Hurricanes.ddddddddddddAll Blacks prop Moody also remains out with nerve damage to his neck, having missed the last two games.There is more positive news for lock Sam Whitelock (illness) and halfback Andy Ellis (calf), after the experienced pair were both late scratchings on Saturday.Both will travel to South Africa, along with winger Johnny McNicholl, who left the game with a dislocated finger. Also a boost for the Crusaders is their 43-37 win over the Lions when the teams met at Ellis Park in April. ' ' '