WTA Championships coming to Singapore

Singapore will play host to the WTA Championships from 2014-2018 (photo by Andrew Tan/Singapore Tourism Board)

Singapore Lands Record Deal to Host WTA Championships from 2014-2018

Singapore will be hosting the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) Championships from 2014-2018. In a record-setting five-year agreement, Singapore will host the most prestigious event on the WTA calendar that will witness the Top 8 singles players, and for the first time, Top 8 doubles teams compete for a record prize money purse of US$ 6.5 million. Tennis fans can expect to see big names such as Serena WiIliams, Maria Sharapova, Victoria Azarenka, and Li Na compete at the 7,500 seater Singapore Indoor Stadium. Singapore becomes the ninth different city to host the WTA Championships. Previous cities that have played host to the elite women's tennis competition were Boca Raton, FL, USA (1972-73), Los Angeles (1974-76, 2002-05), Oakland, CA-USA (1978), New York City (1977, 1979-2000), Munich (2001), Madrid (2006-07), Doha (2008-10) and Istanbul (2011-13). 

World Sport Group (WSG), a subsidiary of Lagardere Unlimited, with support from the Singapore Sports Council and the Singapore Tourism Board (STB), represented Singapore for the winning bid, after an extensive global search and bidding process conducted by the WTA that elicited 43 expressions of interest from international cities that was eventually narrowed to three finalists.

 

Excellent Opportunity

“We are thrilled that the WTA Championships will be coming to Singapore. This is an excellent opportunity for the sports industry to showcase its capabilities in hosting world class events,” said Mr. Lim Teck Yin, Chief Executive Officer, Singapore Sports Council. “At the heart of the WTA are the ideals of inclusiveness; expanding women’s roles in sport and society; inspiration and connection to the community through sporting heroes; creating role models for youth and energising the growth of the game through world class events."

Mr Lim added, "We believe this event will inspire our athletes at home and those in the region, as well as engage the community-at-large at our new Sports Hub. The Championships will herald a new phase of tennis development in Singapore, which will include enhanced capabilities in coaching and officiating for the benefit of all tennis enthusiasts."

His counterpart, Stacey Allaster, Chairman and CEO of the WTA was equally enthusiastic. “It gives me great pleasure to announce that the sensational city of Singapore has won the right to host the WTA Championships, the WTA’s crown-jewel season finale for the next five years, from 2014 to 2018.”

“This is the largest and most significant WTA Championships partnership in our history. It’s a record-breaker. Singapore is exciting. It’s state-of-the-art and we love the people. I am very much looking forward to the Championships in Singapore in 2014.”

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