The WTA Tour officials announced that the Southeast Asian nation of Singapore will host the prestigious WTA Championships from 2014 to 2018. This record-setting five-year agreement has a lot of firsts. For the first, aside from the world’s top eight singles players in attendance, the world’s top eight doubles teams will be competing at this event. In the past, there were only four doubles teams participating in the event.
A record total prize money worth $6.5 million is up for grabs and the winners will certainly get the lion’s share of this.
There was an extensive bidding process that took place prior to the announcement with 43 expressions of interest from global cities submitted. The three finalists were Tianjin in China, Monterrey in Mexico and Singapore.
“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,” Stacey Allaster, Chairman & CEO of the WTA, said on Wednesday, May 8.
“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 WTA Championships in Singapore in 2014,” she added.
The Singapore Tourism Board expressed their excitement and honor for winning the bid.
“Singapore is honored to have been selected as host for the WTA Championships,” said Mr. Lionel Yeo, Chief Executive Officer, Singapore Tourism Board. “This world class event is expected to draw local and foreign tennis fans and add to Singapore’s reputation as a vibrant global city by complementing our existing suite of lifestyle offerings. It is also another example of STB’s partnership with the private sector to introduce the right software that optimizes our excellent infrastructure.”
“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 energizing the growth of the game through world class events. 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 WTA 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.”
The Singapore Sports Hub, a state-of-the-art $1.3 billion structure, will be hosting the WTA Championships and the Singapore Indoor Stadium will feature a 7,500 seater venue for tennis enthusiasts everywhere.
