OFFICIAL TOURNAMENT PROGRAMME
Simona Halep
Agnieszka Radwanska
Caroline Wozniacki
Petra Kvitova
Serena Williams
Eugenie Bouchard
Maria Sharapova
$10
Ana Ivanovic
GAME.SET.SINGAPORE OCTOBER 17-26, 2014
1instAsiatime Pacific
Held in
Contents Welcome Messages
3
The Road to Singapore
12
Women’s Singles Profiles
16-20
Women’s Doubles Profiles
22-26
Match Schedule
28
Honour Roll: Singles Champions
30
Honour Roll: Doubles Champions
31
The WTA Finals: Connecting The Greats
32
WTA Legends: Legendary!
37
WTA Legends Profiles
42-44
On The Rise
46
WTA Rising Stars: WTA Rising Stars Profiles
49-50
Singapore Sports Hub
53
Game. Set. Singapore
57
The Adventure Begins at Your Singapore
63
Tennis For Every Child, SC Global
66
Official Prizemoney Breakdown
73
Tournament Partners Page
77
Site Map
78
2015 WTA Schedule
80
BNP Paribas WTA finals singapore presented by SC global 1
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Welcome
Messages Welcome to Singapore and the 2014 BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global! Singapore is honoured to be the first Asia-Pacific city to host WTA’s year-end finale of the best in women’s tennis. This will be the first of five editions that Singapore will host through to 2018. We are pleased to partner the WTA to bring this prestigious global sporting event to new heights. The WTA Finals is an exciting addition to Singapore’s vibrant calendar of world-class sporting and entertainment events. The Singapore Tourism Board and Sport Singapore have worked closely with the event promoter, World Sport Group, and the WTA to serve up a 10-day
Singapore is proud and honoured
to be the first city in the Asia-Pacific to host the 2014 BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global. The event this year has special meaning for us because it is taking place at our brand new national icon, the Singapore Sports Hub. We built the Sports Hub to bring high-quality sporting experiences to Singaporeans, and that’s what the WTA Finals is all about. It will be a 10-day festival of sports and entertainment featuring the world’s top women’s tennis players. Besides the competitive tennis matches, there are many other exciting activities to look forward to – you can visit the Fan Zone, catch the best young talent at the Rising Stars Event, and watch tennis greats such
festival of sports, lifestyle, business and entertainment. Singaporeans and visitors can look forward to thrilling tennis action featuring the world’s best players at the Singapore Indoor Stadium. You can also catch them practicing at the OCBC Arena, join in the festivities at the Fan Zone, and watch Mariah Carey live in concert at the National Stadium. Thank you for being part of the inaugural event. I wish all the players a successful competition, and the fans a memorable experience in Singapore! S Iswaran Minister, Prime Minister’s Office, Second Minister for Home Affairs and Second Minister for Trade and Industry
as Martina Navratilova and Tracy Austin at the Legends event. So there will be something for everyone. I hope this landmark event will inspire our tennis players and fans, and encourage even more to pick up the sport. Many people have worked hard to make the WTA Finals in Singapore a reality, and I would like to thank everyone for their contributions. I wish all players a successful competition and our guests from overseas a wonderful time in Singapore! Lawrence Wong Minister for Culture Community and Youth, Second Minister for Ministry of Communications and Information
BNP Paribas WTA finals singapore presented by SC global 3
Welcome
Messages Welcome to our first BNP Paribas
WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global, where the world’s top eight singles players and doubles teams will compete as part of an exciting 10-day sports entertainment spectacle that will also showcase former Champions as well as the WTA’s Rising Stars and Future Stars from Asia-Pacific.
As we begin our five year journey in Singapore, you will be part of sporting history. Your innovative Sports Hub will be showcased to millions of fans around the world, the WTA’s stars will shine and the WTA Finals will have an impact on youth that will be felt for decades. In time, new tennis talents will emerge from
Having relocated to this
wonderful city at the start of the year I am proud to call Singapore home. Whilst preparing to host the world’s best women tennis players at the BNP Paribas WTA Finals presented by SC Global, it has been a privilege to share the grass roots enthusiasm with which you, the people of Singapore, have embraced this great tournament. Tennis has been a joy in my life since childhood and each time I see a youngster pick up a racquet – perhaps for the first time – I know the sport will thrive here. I speak for my WTA colleagues when I say we’ve been inspired by your warm welcome and are determined to deliver an unforgettable 10 day sports entertainment experience for fans of all ages.
Staging a world class event like the WTA Finals takes teamwork and a commitment to excellence. My deepest gratitude to the WTA’s dedicated partners – World Sport Group, Singapore Tourism Board and Sport Singapore – and fantastic sponsors, led by BNP Paribas and Singapore’s own SG Global. We also couldn’t do it without the many volunteers and officials who’ve devoted their time to serving our phenomenal athletes. Cheer your favorites with passion – I’m sure you’ll be enthralled by their skill and competitive spirit! Melissa Pine Vice President APAC WTA Finals Tournament Director
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this region and more importantly the WTA Finals and our athletes will inspire girls and boys alike to embrace healthy lifestyles. We are most grateful to all of our sponsors and partners, most especially World Sport Group, Singapore Tourism Board and Sport Singapore - together we will take this prestigious season finale to new heights. For the next 10 days women’s tennis is right where it belongs: On Top of the World in Singapore. On behalf of the WTA family, thank you for joining us. Stacey Allaster Chairman & CEO Womens Tennis Association
Welcome
Messages A very warm welcome to the
BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global. This inaugural event is a truly momentous occasion, marking the first time in the Finals’ 44-year history that a city in Asia-Pacific is hosting this prestigious tournament. Held in one of Asia’s most exciting locations, Singapore continues to cement its status as Asia’s leading sports and entertainment destination. In the brand new Singapore Sports Hub, this festival of tennis promises something for everyone, from thrilling on-court action to electric off-court entertainment, interactive activities at the Fan Zone as well as a series of business and lifestyle events.
In May 2013, World Sport
Group represented Singapore and successfully outbid 42 other cities to win the rights to host the tournament for a record five years. To kick off the first year, we have put together an extensive 10-day programme jam-packed with 11 sessions of tennis, in addition to entertainment, business and lifestyle events and activities. Fans are in for a real treat as the brightest stars in women’s tennis battle for the Billie Jean King and Martina Navratilova trophies right here in Singapore. Beyond the actual competition, Festival highlights include the new and free Fan Zone, WTA Rising Stars Invitational that gives us a preview of the next generation of superstars, the WTA Legends Classic which welcomes the greats back onto the court as
In the last year, we have worked tirelessly together with the WTA, Singapore Tourism Board, Sport Singapore and our partners to put together the biggest 10-day festival in the history of the WTA Finals. I would like to take the opportunity to thank all Singaporeans for enthusiastically supporting the inaugural WTA Finals while our gratitude goes to all our sponsors, and especially the title sponsor BNP Paribas and presenting partner SC Global. Finally, I wish all players a successful WTA Finals and look forward to witnessing the very best of women’s tennis, right here in Singapore. Andrew Georgiou CEO World Sport Group
well as the sensational Mariah Carey who is headlining the entertainment programme. Community, business and industry events complement the programme, bringing together something for everyone. As we enjoy the incredible breadth of talent on show, I also want to thank our Finals Force volunteers for their invaluable contribution to this event. They are truly the pillars behind the successful staging of this world-class tournament. Most importantly, I want to thank you, the fans, for your support. I hope you will enjoy the experience and return next year with your friends and families. Sarah Clements Director of Operations World Sport Group
BNP Paribas WTA finals singapore presented by SC global 5
Welcome
Messages BNP Paribas is pleased to be
the title sponsor of the WTA Finals in Singapore. Our title sponsorship is reflective of our continued commitment to the sports community across continents, with the hope to connect this region to the rest of the tennis world. As a leading international financial institution strongly rooted in Asia Pacific, BNP Paribas has strong ambitions in the region, with Singapore being a key component of our growth plan. Riding on this momentum, the title sponsorship underscores our Group’s continued commitment to the global tennis community. Building upon the city-state’s vision of becoming a world-class sports destination, BNP Paribas hopes to bring tennis to greater heights in the region. BNP Paribas’ affinity with the sport
We are honoured to be the presenting sponsor of the BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore and look forward to an incredible championship week of tennis. It is always inspirational watching the best in their game and to arrive at these Finals, players have displayed passionate determination, meticulous precision and an unwavering pursuit of excellence. This resonates with our own ethos at SC Global as we share this determined passion to be the best in our craft. As a homegrown Singapore company, we are proud to see these Finals hosted here. We believe it will not only showcase Singapore as a world-class city but also provide an opportunity
to create a lasting impact in the wider community. In this respect, we recently set up the SC Global Tennis for Every Child programme to increase interest and participation in tennis amongst primary school children (page 62). At the launch, children expressed excitement taking their first lesson and one boy proclaimed: “I hope I can do better in the sport and represent Singapore in the future.” We hope to build on this inspiration to create a lasting legacy for tennis beyond the Finals and inspire a new generation of homegrown tennis stars. Simon Cheong Chairman & CEO SC Global Developments Pte Ltd
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has come a long way since our first step into tennis sponsorship in 1973. Helping people get more actively involved with the sport has always been our goal. This is why we are proud not only to host some of the game’s most renowned tournaments, but also some of the less well-known events. Amongst our efforts to build a more vibrant tennis community is wearetennis.com – a website dedicated to tennis news that serves as a meeting point for fans of all age groups. To all our friends, clients, staff and partners, we thank you for your strong and continued support and to all tennis fans, we hope that you will have an exciting and unforgettable experience in this prestigious tournament. Pierre Veyres Chief Executive Officer of BNP Paribas Singapore Branch Regional Head for South East Asia
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Welcome
Messages Welcome to the Singapore
Sports Hub. Today we are proud to host the inaugural BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global – the year-end crown jewel event that brings together the top eight singles and doubles teams in women’s tennis. Global mega-star Mariah Carey is also set to perform her critically acclaimed concert “Me. I am Mariah” for WTA fans as part of the 10-day tournament’s entertainment offerings. Spanning a mammoth 35 hectares of land in the heart of the city, the Singapore Sports Hub is a sports and lifestyle precinct that houses a unique cluster of 11 world-class facilities designed to stage major international sporting as well as cityscale entertainment events. We are thrilled that the BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global has chosen to call us home for the next 5 years. Beyond October, we also look forward to hosting international tournaments
such as the Netball Nations Cup and the AFF Suzuki Cup, as well as highlyanticipated entertainment acts. The Singapore Sports Hub will also host the 28th Southeast Asian Games in 2015, where we look forward to showcasing our facilities to our neighbours from across the region. As Singapore prepares to celebrate its 50th birthday, the Sports Hub is a glittering symbol of how far this nation has come in sports and entertainment. We are proud to host the inaugural BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global and welcome you, the fans, to the Singapore Sports Hub. For our overseas visitors, there is so much to see, do and experience in Singapore and we hope you enjoy exploring and discovering what awaits you here. Thank you. Oon Jin Teik COO Sports Hub Private Limited
PUBLISHER Word Sport Group 8 Shenton Way #30-01 Singapore 068811 Tel: 6826 2688 | Fax: 6826 2675 www.wsgworld.com
PUBLISHING AGENCY Bold Ink Magazine Private Limited 201A Thomson Road Singapore 307637 Tel: 6223 4258 | Fax: 6223 3147
EDITORIAL ADVISORS Word Sport Group Simon Wilson | Director, Media & Communications ASEAN
DIRECTORS Jacqueline Wong Jasmin Oh
Women’s Tennis Association Eloise Tyson | Director, Communications Europe
PROJECT ART DIRECTOR Han Yew Hock
The views and opinions expressed or implied in BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global 2014 Tournament Programme do not necessarily reflect those of WSG, WTA or Bold Ink Magazines Private Limited, its directors or editorial staff. All information correct at time of print.
Contributor Mark Hodgkinson | Tennis Author/Journalist
ART DIRECTOR Lydia Foo
All photographs courtesy of Getty Images, WTA or World Sport Group.
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The Road
To Singapore The BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global has arrived at the impressive new Sports Hub much to the delight of an excited general public. However, the tournament experienced its first service of sorts earlier this month when the Road to Singapore reached Orchard Road. On October 4, part of Singapore’s famous stretch of retail outlets was closed and turned into a pedestrian– only boulevard to create a large scale event space right in the heart of the city. The theme was tennis with interactive activities, exhibitions and booths all aimed at helping to promote awareness of the WTA Finals. This was an initiative by the Singapore Tourism Board, one of the tournament’s key stakeholders, and was another significant landmark on the Road to Singapore, which was buzzing with excitement, just as the WTA Finals will be. It was in January this year that the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) unveiled their plans for the WTA Finals, which this year marks the first time in its storied 44–year history that a city in Asia–Pacific has hosted the tournament. During a press conference in Singapore, WTA star Eugenie Bouchard, official WTA Finals Ambassador Chris Evert, WTA Chairman and CEO Stacey Allaster, and Andrew Georgiou, CEO of World Sport Group, the event promoter, unveiled numerous new components of the tournament. “We are excited to announce new elements of the WTA Finals that will
engage the fans of women’s tennis with the WTA stars and turn our year–end event into a premier sports entertainment property,” said Allaster. “The WTA is committed to the long– term development of the sports community in Singapore and through numerous programs we’ve put in place, we look forward to growing our fan base and empowering the people of the region through sports.”
12 BNP Paribas WTA finals singapore presented by SC global
It was announced that the WTA Finals was to be expanded into a 10–day sports entertainment event of competition, exhibitions and activities for the fans of women’s tennis in Singapore and around the world. The WTA also explained there was to be seven days of competition starting this year, versus six in previous years, with eight days of competition in 2015. Additionally, the doubles competition was to be expanded to eight teams.
Navratilova, the winner of 18 Grand Slam titles, and her legendary peers Tracy Austin, Marion Bartoli and Iva Majoli will help bring the Singapore Indoor Stadium to life. Said Georgiou: “Asia continues to grow as a destination for global sports properties, with Singapore an important hub given its world class infrastructure and ability to host and execute to the highest level. “The investment in the Singapore Sports Hub creates an opportunity not only to host global events such as this, but to do so in a way that offers an engaging experience for corporates, but also visitors as well as Singaporeans of all backgrounds. The WTA Finals will have something for everyone.” These announcements provided the WTA Finals with a winning start to the year and were followed by ace after ace of news and developments that enriched the tournament.
Chris Evert and Eugenie Bouchard playing on the 57th floor of Marina Bay Sands
A new WTA Rising Stars Invitational was also launched. To take place over the event’s Fan Festival weekend, the invitational event will feature the WTA’s up-and-coming talent from the Asian region and around the world. And a WTA Legends Classic event was set up to welcome some of the greats of the game back on the court. Hence as well as watching the top eight singles players and doubles teams compete this week, Martina
Soon after BNP Paribas revealed they would continue as title sponsor of the prestigious event. Pierre Veyres, Chief Executive Officer of BNP Paribas Singapore Branch and Regional Head for South East Asia added: “As a leading international financial institution in Asia Pacific and a long –time partner of tennis worldwide, we are excited to bring tennis to a whole new level with Singapore positioned as a world class sports hub. Our title sponsorship of the BNP Paribas WTA Finals reflects our continued commitment to the sports community across continents with the hope to connect this region to the rest of the tennis world. Asia Pacific is a region where the BNP Paribas Group has strong ambitions with Singapore being a key component of our plan. We are very pleased to associate our brand with such a prestigious event to build on the momentum.”
WTA Finals Ambassador Chris Evert and Canadian star Eugenie Bouchard interacted with local kids at an inspirational forum in January
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The results were not to disappoint with a ‘super eight’ being confirmed, led by defending champion Serena Williams, Maria Sharapova, Simona Halep, Petra Kvitova, Eugenie Bouchard, Ana Ivanovic, Agnieszka Radwanska, and Caroline Wozniacki. And with China’s Peng Shuai and Hsieh Su–Wei from Chinese Taipei making it through as one of the leading doubles teams, the scene has been set for the region to watch one of the finest editions of the WTA Finals. Thus the Road to Singapore has been a thrilling trip to remember with the end result seeing the finest women tennis players compete in Asia Pacific. Of course it is important to remember that after the singles champion has been crowned on Sunday we can still look forward to a long and exciting journey ahead. Serena Williams triumphed in last year’s WTA Finals in Istanbul
And SC Global quickly joined as presenting sponsor followed by a wealth of high end brands as event partners. For tennis fans in the region, the news they were really waiting for was who would be the top eight singles players and doubles teams competing in Singapore would be. The Road to Singapore ranking system gathered momentum throughout the year with players battling for places and qualification.
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The WTA Finals will be played in Singapore for another four years and so the tournament’s rich history is set to be further embellished. It is an exciting future which will no doubt lead to the growth and development of the game in Asia Pacific and ultimately result in the region being able to produce players capable of winning the BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global.
singles player profiles
Serena Williams is a two-time defending champion at the WTA Finals, and has won the title four times in eight appearances. Her first victory came on her debut at the WTA Finals in 2001, and she starts this year’s tournament with a 15-match winning streak at the event, having won the title in her last three attempts – 2009, 2012 and 2013. Should she win this year’s WTA Finals, Williams will tie Steffi Graf for second-most titles in WTA Finals history, with five. Only Martina Navratilova, with eight, has more. In 2014, Williams has won six WTA titles, including her 18th Grand Slam title at the US Open – tying the totals of tennis legends Martina Navratilova and Chris Evert.
Road to singapore
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“I never dreamed that I could be compared to Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova,” said Williams. “I was just a kid with a dream and a racquet living in Compton (Los Angeles).”
Serena Williams
Country: United States Date of Birth: September 26, 1981 WTA Finals record: 25–5 in eight appearances (2001–02, 2004, 2007–09, 2012–13 – Champion in 2001, 2009, 2012 and 2013) Twitter: @SerenaWilliams
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Williams beat Li Na of China 26 63 60 to win the 2013 WTA Finals and finish the year with a 78–4 record and a WTA-leading 11 titles, including Grand Slam championships at Roland Garros and the US Open. For her victory at the 2013 WTA Finals, she won US$2,145,000 to bring her total winnings to $12,385,572 – a single-season record.
Maria Sharapova
Country: Russia Date of Birth: April 19, 1987 WTA Finals record: 17–8 in six appearances (2004–07, 2011–12 – Champion in 2004) Twitter: @MariaSharapova
Fan favorite Maria Sharapova will be playing in her seventh WTA Finals following a stellar season.
Mutua Madrid Open, and then won her second Roland Garros title with a 64 67(5) 64 win over Simona Halep.
After a shoulder injury sidelined her for the second half of 2013, Sharapova started this year with renewed desire and fresh vision.
It was Sharapova’s fifth Grand Slam title after successes at Wimbledon (2004), US Open (2006), Australian Open (2008) and Roland Garros (2012).
She reached the fourth round at the Australian Open in January and, in March, made it to the semifinals at the Miami Open.
Late in this season, she added a title in Beijing, the 33rd title of her career.
The Russian picked up crucial Road to Singapore points during the European clay court season. She won her 30th WTA title at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix (Stuttgart), followed up with victory at the
16 BNP Paribas WTA finals singapore presented by SC global
Sharapova, who has been ranked No.1 for 21 weeks during her career, claimed her sole WTA Finals title at Los Angeles in 2004 when she beat Serena Williams 46 62 64. She has twice been runner-up – to Justine Henin in 2007 and Williams in 2012.
Road to singapore
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Petra Kvitova
Country: Czech Republic Date of Birth: March 8, 1990 WTA Finals record: 7–3 in three appearances (2011–13 – Champion in 2011) Twitter: @Petra_Kvitova
WTA Finals Champion in 2011, Petra Kvitova has qualified for her fourth straight WTA Finals after a strong second half of the season. She strengthened her bid to qualify for the WTA Finals in spectacular fashion by winning Wimbledon for the second time, overpowering Eugenie Bouchard of Canada 63 60 in the final. To this day, Kvitova remains the only player born in the 1990s to have won a Grand Slam. Her first Grand Slam title came at Wimbledon in 2011, where she defeated Maria Sharapova in the Championship match.
Road to singapore
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Simona Halep
Country: Romania Date of Birth: September 27, 1991 WTA Finals record: Tournament debut Twitter: @simona_halep
Simona Halep will compete in the WTA Finals for the first time after a sensational season. After a breakthrough year in 2013, in which she won six WTA titles, Halep continued her meteoric rise this year, reaching a career-best ranking of No.2. A self-described “aggressive baseliner,” Halep is a tough competitor on all surfaces and a genuine contender at Grand Slams, having reached her first final at a major at Roland Garros this year. Halep reached the quarterfinals or better at nine tournaments in 2014, including titles at the Qatar Total Open (Doha) and the Bucharest Open.
In addition to her final at Roland Garros, she also reached the final at the Mutua Madrid Open, and the semifinals at Wimbledon and the BNP Paribas Open (Indian Wells). Halep will become the third Romanian in history to compete in singles at the WTA Finals, following in the footsteps of Virginia Ruzici and Irina Spirlea. “It has always been a dream of mine to compete in the WTA Finals,” said Halep. “I’ve had great success this year, and I’m looking forward to competing against the best players in the world in Singapore.”
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The 24-year-old Czech continued to make progress along the Road to Singapore by lifting the trophy at New Haven with a straight-sets victory over Magdalena Rybarikova in August. She clinched her place in the Elite Eight with her third success of the season, and 14th overall, in Wuhan last month. Once again she was too strong for Bouchard in the title match, winning 63 64. Kvitova burst onto the scene in 2011 with her Wimbledon victory and capped a fantastic year by winning the WTA Finals, where she beat Victoria Azarenka 75 46 63 in a high-quality final.
Road to singapore
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Eugenie Bouchard
Country: Canada Date of Birth: February 25, 1994 WTA Finals record: Tournament debut Twitter: @geniebouchard
Eugenie Bouchard made huge strides in 2014 with her high-tempo, aggressive style of play and sealed a WTA Finals place for the first time on the back of terrific results, especially in the Grand Slams. She produced semifinal efforts at the Australian Open (going down to eventual winner Li Na) and Roland Garros (losing to Maria Sharapova in a tough three-setter). The 20-year-old Canadian then made her career-first Grand Slam final appearance at Wimbledon, where she lost to Petra Kvitova. Ahead of the French Open, Bouchard had made a bold statement of intent by winning her first career WTA title at the
Nürnberger Cup (Nürnberg), beating Karolina Pliskova in three sets. Additionally, Bouchard finished runnerup to Kvitova at the Dongfeng Motor Wuhan Open in China in September. On her rise up the tennis ladder, Bouchard has achieved the highest WTA Ranking ever by a Canadian (No.6). She finished the 2013 season ranked No.32, and made the largest ranking move during this season of any 2014 WTA Finals participant. The third Canadian to qualify in the event’s 44-year history, and the first to do so since 1989 (Carling Bassett, 1984–85; Helen Kelesi, 1988–89), she will be making her WTA Finals debut in Singapore.
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Agnieszka Radwanska Country: Poland Date of Birth: March 6, 1989 WTA Finals record: 5–7 in five appearances (2008–09, 2011–13) Twitter: @ARadwanska
Employing a game based on variety of shot and mobility, Agnieszka Radwanska will be appearing in the WTA Finals for the sixth time (including twice as an alternate). Known as “Aga” to fellow players, friends and fans, the 25-year-old from Poland lifted her 14th WTA title with victory at the Rogers Cup in Montreal in August, defeating Venus Williams in the final. Her other final appearance in 2014 was at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells.
She piled up more points on the Road to Singapore by reaching the quarterfinals or better 11 times, including semifinal efforts at the Australian Open, Qatar Total Open and Mutua Madrid Open. Radwanska played the WTA Finals in 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012 and 2013. Her best result came in 2012 when she advanced to the semifinals, losing to eventual champion Serena Williams. Her 2014 season will be the sixth time in the past seven years to see her finish in the Top 10 of the WTA Rankings.
BNP Paribas WTA finals singapore presented by SC global 19
Ana Ivanovic
Country: Serbia Date of Birth: November 6, 1987 WTA Finals record: 2–4 in two appearances (2007–08) Twitter: @AnaIvanovic
It has been something of a comeback season for the ever-popular Ana Ivanovic, qualifying for a third appearance at the WTA Finals, but her first since 2008, where she reached the semifinals. The Serb is having her best season since 2008, when she captured her first Grand Slam title at Roland Garros – beating Dinara Safina in the final – and ascended to World No.1. She has secured four titles this season, including triumphs at the ASB Classic Auckland (defeating Venus Williams in a three-set final), Abierto Monterrey
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(defeating Jovana Jaksic), Aegon Classic in Birmingham (downing Barbara Zahlavova Strycova) and the Toray Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo (beating Caroline Wozniacki). Ivanovic also boasts runner–up performances at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix (Stuttgart) and Western & Southern Open (Cincinnati) along with reaching the semifinals at the China Open in Beijing earlier this month before exiting at the hands of eventual winner Maria Sharapova. Through October 13, Ivanovic led the WTA with a career-high 56 match wins.
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Caroline Wozniacki
Country: Denmark Date of Birth: July 11, 1990 WTA Finals record: 6–6 in three appearances (2009–11) Twitter: @CaroWozniacki
Caroline Wozniacki surged in the second half of the season to tally points on the Road to Singapore and secure a spot in her fourth WTA Finals. Early in the season, Wozniacki reached the semifinals in Dubai and Monterrey and the quarterfinals in Miami. It was once she reached the grass courts that Wozniacki’s season really took off. After a semifinal at Eastbourne and a fourth round appearance at Wimbledon, Wozniacki claimed her first title of 2014 in July at the TEB BNP Paribas Istanbul Cup. She defeated Roberta Vinci in the final to pick up her 22nd career title.
After a semifinal loss to Serena Williams in Cincinnati, she sped into the final of the US Open leaving the likes of Maria Sharapova (round of 16), Sara Errani (quarterfinals) and Peng Shuai (semifinals) in her wake. Wozniacki’s good friend Williams awaited her in the final and the latter won the battle of the current and former World No.1s in straight sets. The Dane booked her spot in the Elite Eight after a finals appearance at the Toray Pan Pacific Open (Tokyo) and semifinal showing in Wuhan. Her best result in three previous outings at the WTA Finals came in 2010 when she was runner-up to Kim Clijsters.
All information is accurate as of 13 October 2014.
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doubles TEAM profiles
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Roberta Vinci Country: Italy WTA Finals record: 0–3 in three appearances (2001, 2012–13) Date of Birth: February 18, 1983 Twitter: @Roberta_Vinci
Sara Errani
Country: Italy WTA Finals record: 0–3 in three appearances (2012–13) Date of Birth: April 29, 1987 Twitter: @SaraErrani
From left: Sara Errani and Roberta Vinci
The decorated Italian duo of Sara Errani and Roberta Vinci will be seeking to join elite company at the WTA Finals. Only two pairings – Martina Navratilova and Pam Shriver and Gigi Fernández and Natasha Zvereva – have captured all four Grand Slams as well as a WTA Finals title. Errani/Vinci completed a career Grand Slam with victory at Wimbledon this year, adding to their previous Grand Slam doubles titles at the Australian Open (2013, 2014), Roland Garros (2012) and US Open (2012).
Since first teaming up on a regular basis in 2010, they have won 198 matches (as of October 5) and have reached eight of the last 11 Grand Slam finals, including the first three Slams of 2014. They also won titles at the Porsche Grand Prix (Stuttgart) and Mutua Madrid Open this season, bringing their career doubles titles tally as a team to 20. This will be Errani/Vinci’s third straight appearance at the WTA Finals.
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Peng Shuai
Country: China WTA Finals record: 2–0 in one appearance (2013 – Champion) Date of Birth: January 8, 1986 Sina Weibo: 彭帅
From left: Peng Shuai and Hsieh Su-Wei
History-makers Hsieh Su-Wei and Peng Shuai are the defending champions at the WTA Finals after their victory over Ekaterina Makarova and Elena Vesnina in Istanbul last year. They have a phenomenal record of 12- 0 in WTA doubles finals and their successes this year saw them rise to number one in the world – the first players, male or female, from Chinese Taipei and China to hold that position in either singles or doubles.
Their main achievement in 2014 was victory at Roland Garros – their second Grand Slam doubles title together after Wimbledon last year. The win at Wimbledon saw Hsieh become the first player from Chinese Taipei – and Peng the fifth Chinese – to win a Grand Slam title of any kind. Hsieh and Peng, whose distinctive style sees each of them playing double-handed off both sides, also lifted Premier-level titles at Doha and Indian Wells this year.
22 BNP Paribas WTA finals singapore presented by SC global
Hsieh Su-Wei
Country: Chinese Taipei WTA Finals record: 2–0 in one appearance (2013 – Champion) Date of Birth: January 4, 1986 Sina Weibo: 夢遊寫真人謝淑薇
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ROAD TO SINGAPORE
3
Elena Vesnina
Country: Russia WTA Finals record: 1–1 in one appearance (2013) Date of Birth: August 1, 1986 Twitter: @EVesnina001
Ekaterina Makarova
Country: Russia WTA Finals record: 1–1 in one appearance (2013) Date of Birth: June 7, 1988 Twitter: @katemakarova1
Ekaterina Makarova and Elena Vesnina secured a spot in the WTA Finals by capturing their second Grand Slam title at the 2014 US Open. The Russian duo won the title in style, beating the Williams sisters in the quarterfinals and Martina Hingis and Flavia Pennetta in a thrilling three-set championship match. No other all-Russian duo has won more than one Grand Slam doubles title (they also took home the trophy at Roland Garros in 2013). The only other all-Russian pairing to win a Grand Slam is Svetlana Kuznetsova/Vera Zvonareva at the 2012 Australian Open. From left: Ekaterina Makarova and Elena Vesnina
Makarova and Vesnina reached two other WTA doubles finals this year, at the Australian Open (l. Sara Errani and Roberta Vinci) and Miami Open (l. Martina Hingis and Sabine Lisicki). This will be Makarova/Vesnina’s second appearance at the WTA Finals. A year ago, the pair came up just shy of capturing their first WTA Finals crown, falling to Hsieh Su-Wei and Peng Shuai in the final.
Exciting duo Cara Black and Sania Mirza was the fourth team to qualify for the WTA Finals, doing so during their title run at Tokyo. They will be making their first appearance at the WTA Finals as a team, and India’s Mirza will be debuting at the event individually. Black, however, has a wealth of experience in the season finale. She qualified for 10 straight years between 2000 and 2009 with three different partners (Elena Likhovtseva, Rennae Stubbs and Liezel Huber), winning the title with Huber in 2007 and 2008. The Zimbabwean has 59 WTA doubles titles to her credit, including five Grand Slams. Mirza and Black teamed up last autumn and clicked right away, winning their first two tournaments together at Premierlevel events in Tokyo and Beijing. The pairing followed up that success this year with two WTA doubles titles (Oeiras and Tokyo), four more finals (Indian Wells, Stuttgart, Montreal and Beijing) and three semifinals (including their first Grand Slam semifinal together at the US Open).
24 BNP Paribas WTA finals singapore presented by SC global
Top: Sania Mirza and Cara Black
ROAD TO SINGAPORE
4
Cara Black
Country: Zimbabwe WTA Finals record: 12-8 in 10 appearances (2007, 2008 - Champion) Date of Birth: February 17, 1979
Sania Mirza
Country: India WTA Finals record: Tournament debut Date of Birth: November 15, 1986 Twitter: @MirzaSania
ROAD TO SINGAPORE
5
Raquel Kops-Jones
Country: United States WTA Finals record: Tournament debut Date of Birth: December 8, 1982
Abigail Spears
Country: United States WTA Finals record: Tournament debut Date of Birth: July 12, 1981
From left: Abigail Spears and Raquel Kops-Jones
Raquel Kops-Jones and Abigail Spears of the United States were rewarded for their consistency this season with a place in the WTA Finals. The duo reached the semifinals or better 10 times at WTA events this year, a record that gave them traction on the Road to Singapore. They have come close to qualifying for the WTA Finals before – two years ago they were just one win away, falling to Maria Kirilenko and Nadia Petrova in the semifinals of Moscow in a virtual qualification decider.
Kops-Jones and Spears have won 10 WTA doubles titles together over the years – one in 2009 (Oeiras), one in 2011 (Québec City), four in 2012 (Carlsbad, Seoul, Tokyo and Osaka), two in 2013 (Stanford and Carlsbad) and two in 2014 (Birmingham and their milestone 10th WTA doubles title in Cincinnati). They recorded their best Grand Slam result this year, reaching the semifinals of the Australian Open – their previous best results were quarterfinals at the 2008 US Open and 2012 Wimbledon.
The experienced duo of Kveta Peschke and Katarina Srebotnik qualified for the WTA Finals on the back of solid results this season. The highlight of the year was winning their 10th title as a team at the WTA Premier event Internazionali BNL d’Italia (Rome). The pairing also reached the finals at the Qatar Total Open (Doha) and posted semifinal efforts at the Australian Open and Aegon International (Eastbourne). First pairing up as a team in 2006, Peschke, of the Czech Republic, and Slovenia’s Srebotnik have played 71 tournaments together, collecting a total of 10 titles including Wimbledon in 2011.
From left: Kveta Peschke and Katarina Srebotnik
Peschke will be making her sixth trip to the WTA Finals while Srebotnik will be appearing for the eighth time. They have twice been partners at the event, advancing to the final both times, in 2010 and 2011. The duo lost to Gisela Dulko and Flavia Pennetta in 2010 and Liezel Huber and Lisa Raymond the following year.
ROAD TO SINGAPORE
6
Kveta Peschke
Country: Czech Republic WTA Finals record: 3–5 in five appearances (2010-11) Date of Birth: July 9, 1975
Katarina Srebotnik
Country: Slovenia WTA Finals record: 3–7 in two appearances (2010-11) Date of Birth: March 12, 1981
BNP Paribas WTA finals singapore presented by SC global 25
ROAD TO SINGAPORE
7
Garbiñe Muguruza
Country: Spain WTA Finals record: Tournament debut Date of Birth: October 8, 1993 Twitter: @GarbiMuguruza
Carla Suárez Navarro
Country: Spain WTA Finals record: Tournament debut Date of Birth: September 3, 1988 Twitter: @CarlaSuarezNava
The Spanish duo of Garbiñe Muguruza and Carla Suárez Navarro have qualified for the WTA Finals after teaming up for the first time in March when they reached the quarterfinals in Miami. The duo reunited on clay, and won eight of their next 10 matches, including a runner-up finish at Madrid and a semifinal appearance at Roland Garros. They claimed their first title together in July when they beat Paula Kania and Katerina Siniakova to win the Bank of the West Classic at Stanford. Later in the summer, they reached the quarterfinals at Cincinnati, and last month they reached the final in Tokyo. From left: Garbiñe Muguruza and Carla Suárez Navarro
Through October 6, they had played 32 matches together this season, the second-fewest of any team in the Top 10 on the Road to Singapore, behind only Martina Hingis and Flavia Pennetta (21 through October 6) – a testament to their consistently-strong results. Muguruza, who turned 21 earlier this month, is the youngest player in the doubles competition at the WTA Finals.
ROAD TO SINGAPORE
8
Anastasia Rodionova
Country: Australia WTA Finals record: Tournament debut Date of Birth: May 12, 1982 Twitter: @arodionova
From left: Alla Kudryavtseva and Anastasia Rodionova
First teaming up in 2009, Kudryavtseva and Rodionova have played 39 tournaments together, winning five titles as a team. Both players will be making their debut at the WTA Finals Singapore. The pair has won three titles this season, hoisting the trophy at the Brisbane International, Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships and the Tianjin Open. They also produced a runner-up effort at the PTT Pattaya Open, semifinal runs at the Family Circle Cup (Charleston), the Bank of the West Classic (Stanford) and
Western & Southern Open (Cincinnati) and quarterfinal finishes five times, including at Wimbledon. Kudryavtseva and Rodionova defeated Sorana Cirstea and Andrea Klepac in a thrilling final at the Tianjin Open 6-7(6) 6-2 10-8 to secure their Singapore qualification. “First of all we’re very happy to win this title,” Rodionova said. “We’re very happy how we played and that we could win our third WTA doubles title of the year, but getting into Singapore is great. We’re really looking forward to it.”
26 BNP Paribas WTA finals singapore presented by SC global
Alla Kudryavtseva
Country: Russia WTA Finals record: Tournament debut Date of Birth: November 3, 1987 Twitter: @AllaK11
Match Schedule Date
SESSION
MATCH
October 17, Friday
Time 5.00pm
WTA Rising Stars Invitational Match October 18, Saturday
Fan Festival Weekend
Followed by second WTA Rising Stars Invitational Match All WTA Rising Stars Invitational Matches from 17-19 October are held at OCBC Arena
October 19, Sunday
10.00am
4.00pm
October 20, Monday
Future Stars Under-14 Final
12.00pm
Followed by Future Stars Under-16 Final WTA Legends Classic Match 1
Not before 5.30pm
Opening Ceremony WTA Finals Singles Match
Not before 7.30pm
Followed by second WTA Finals Singles Match October 21, Tuesday 2
WTA Rising Stars Invitational Final (Held on Centre Court)
Not before 5.30pm
WTA Finals Singles Match
Not before 7.30pm
Followed by second WTA Finals Singles Match October 22, Wednesday
3
4
October 23, Thursday
5
WTA Finals Doubles Match
Not before 1.30pm
WTA Finals Singles Match
Not before 4.00pm
WTA Finals Singles Match
Not before 7.30pm
Followed by WTA Finals Doubles Match, and then WTA Legends Classic Match WTA Finals Singles Match Followed by second WTA Finals Singles Match WTA Finals Singles Match
6
October 24, Friday
7
8
October 25, Saturday
9
10
October 26, Sunday
Not before 1.30pm
Not before 7.30pm
Followed by WTA Finals Doubles Match, and then WTA Legends Classic Match WTA Finals Singles Match
Not before 1.30pm
Followed by second WTA Finals Singles Match WTA Finals Singles Match
Not before 7.30pm
Followed by WTA Finals Doubles Match WTA Finals Doubles Semifinal 1
Not before 12.00pm
WTA Finals Singles Semifinal 1
Not before 2.30pm
WTA Finals Singles Semifinal 2
Not before 6.00pm
Followed by WTA Finals Doubles Semifinal 2 WTA Finals Doubles Final
4.00pm
Doubles Trophy Presentation 11
WTA Finals Singles Final Singles Trophy Presentation Closing Ceremony
28 BNP Paribas WTA finals singapore presented by SC global
Not before 7.00pm
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Honour Roll:
Singles Champions YEAR
Champion
1972
Chris Evert (USA)
1973
Chris Evert (USA)
1974
Evonne Goolagong Cawley (AUS)
1975
Chris Evert (USA)
1976
Evonne Goolagong Cawley (AUS)
1977
Chris Evert (USA)
1978
Martina Navratilova (TCH)
1979
Martina Navratilova (TCH)
1980
Tracy Austin (USA)
1981
Martina Navratilova (USA)
1982
Sylvia Hanika (GER)
1983
Martina Navratilova (USA)
1984
Martina Navratilova (USA)
1985
Martina Navratilova (USA)
1986 (Mar)
Martina Navratilova (USA)
1986 (Nov)
Martina Navratilova (USA)
1987
Steffi Graf (GER)
1988
Gabriela Sabatini (ARG)
1989
Steffi Graf (GER)
1990
Monica Seles (YUG)
1991
Monica Seles (YUG)
1992
Monica Seles (YUG)
1993
Steffi Graf (GER)
1994
Gabriela Sabatini (ARG)
1995
Steffi Graf (GER)
1996
Steffi Graf (GER)
1997
Jana Novotna (CZE)
1998
Martina Hingis (SUI)
1999
Lindsay Davenport (USA)
2000
Martina Hingis (SUI)
2001
Serena Williams (USA)
2002
Kim Clijsters (BEL)
2003
Kim Clijsters (BEL)
2004
Maria Sharapova (RUS)
2005
AmĂŠlie Mauresmo (FRA)
2006
Justine Henin (BEL)
2007
Justine Henin (BEL)
2008
Venus Williams (USA)
2009
Serena Williams (USA)
2010
Kim Clijsters (BEL)
2011
Petra Kvitova (CZE)
2012
Serena Williams (USA)
2013
Serena Williams (USA)
30 BNP Paribas WTA finals singapore presented by SC global
Honour Roll:
Doubles Champions YEAR
ChampionS
1972
No Doubles Played
1973
Rosemary Casals (USA) and Margaret Court (AUS)
1974
Rosemary Casals (USA) and Billie Jean King (USA)
1975
No Doubles Played
1976
No Doubles Played
1977
No Doubles Played
1978
No Doubles Played
1979
Francoise Durr (FRA) and Betty Stove (NED)
1980
Billie Jean King (USA) and Martina Navratilova (TCH)
1981
Martina Navratilova (USA) and Pam Shriver (USA)
1982
Martina Navratilova (USA) and Pam Shriver (USA)
1983
Martina Navratilova (USA) and Pam Shriver (USA)
1984
Martina Navratilova (USA) and Pam Shriver (USA)
1985
Martina Navratilova (USA) and Pam Shriver (USA)
1986 (Mar)
Hana MandlĂkova (TCH) and Wendy Turnbull (AUS)
1986 (Nov)
Martina Navratilova (USA) and Pam Shriver (USA)
1987
Martina Navratilova (USA) and Pam Shriver (USA)
1988
Martina Navratilova (USA) and Pam Shriver (USA)
1989
Martina Navratilova (USA) and Pam Shriver (USA)
1990
Kathy Jordan (USA) and Elizabeth Smylie (AUS)
1991
Martina Navratilova (USA) and Pam Shriver (USA)
1992
Arantxa Sanchez Vicario (ESP) and Helena Sukova (CZE)
1993
Gigi Fernandez (USA) and Natasha Zvereva (BLR)
1994
Gigi Fernandez (USA) and Natasha Zvereva (BLR)
1995
Jana Novotna (CZE) and Arantxa Sanchez Vicario (ESP)
1996
Lindsay Davenport (USA) and Mary Joe Fernandez (USA)
1997
Lindsay Davenport (USA) and Jana Novotna (CZE)
1998
Lindsay Davenport (USA) and Natasha Zvereva (BLR)
1999
Martina Hingis (SUI) and Anna Kournikova (RUS)
2000
Martina Hingis (SUI) and Anna Kournikova (RUS)
2001
Lisa Raymond (USA) and Rennae Stubbs (AUS)
2002
Elena Dementieva (RUS) and Janette Husarova (SVK)
2003
Virginia Ruano Pascual (ESP) and Paola Suarez (ARG)
2004
Nadia Petrova (RUS) and Meghann Shaughnessy (USA)
2005
Lisa Raymond (USA) and Samantha Stosur (AUS)
2006
Lisa Raymond (USA) and Samantha Stosur (AUS)
2007
Cara Black (ZIM) and Liezel Huber (USA)
2008
Cara Black (ZIM) and Liezel Huber (USA)
2009
Nuria Llagostera Vives (ESP) and Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez (ESP)
2010
Gisela Dulko (ARG) and Flavia Pennetta (ITA)
2011
Liezel Huber (USA) and Lisa Raymond (USA)
2012
Maria Kirilenko (RUS) and Nadia Petrova (RUS)
2013
Hsieh Su Wei (TPE) and Peng Shuai (CHN)
BNP Paribas WTA finals singapore presented by SC global 31
WTA Finals:
Connecting The Greats By Mark Hodgkinson
Bringing this annual gathering of the women’s tennis elite to Singapore is about building the sport’s future; it’s also – and there’s absolutely no contradiction here – an opportunity to celebrate what has gone before. “This tournament has a lot of class and history,” Chris Evert told me.
Former World No.1 Tracy Austin will play in the inaugural WTA Legends Classic at the BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global
This is a new beginning for the season finale, with the tournament held in Asia–Pacific for the first time. And yet there will be reminders all around the Singapore Sports Hub of the history and heritage of these WTA Finals. Of a glorious past that began more than 40 years ago, and thousands of miles from here, on a clay court in Florida. Strolling around between matches and sessions this week, you may encounter the likes of Martina Navratilova, Evert, Billie Jean
King and Tracy Austin, all past singles or doubles champions at this event, and all on site – whoever wins the BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global will forever have a connection with the greats of the women’s game. To fully appreciate what the modern generation is competing for, you need to have a sense of the past. While King and Evert are ambassadors for the tournament, Navratilova and Austin are featuring in the first Legends Classic, along with Marion Bartoli and Iva Majoli. “You hope,” Austin told me, “that the players competing this year are aware of the tournament’s history.” Of how an event that was first staged in 1972, in Boca Raton, is now on to its ninth city – these championships finals have also been played in Los Angeles, New York,
Oakland, Munich, Madrid, Doha and Istanbul. There will be much to talk about when the former champions gather this week, with Navratilova predicting: “When I get together with Chrissie, Billie Jean and Tracy in Singapore, that will be a photo I’ll keep.” What hasn’t changed, from year to year, and from city to city, is the intensity of the competition. “You have the cream of the crop, and so it’s intense, just really intense,” Navratilova, the most successful player in this tournament’s history, with eight singles titles and eleven doubles titles, told this programme. “If you ask the players which tournament they would want to win on the WTA Tour, they would say this one, as all the best players are here. It’s very elite – to qualify you need to have had had a consistently great year. Qualifying is a big deal – these season– ending championships are huge. Playing this tournament was – and is – always just electric.” Think of these finals, Navratilova said, as the exclamation point at the end of the year. “I’m proud of having those records. It’s special to me to have achieved so much at the tournament,” said Navratilova, who has three more singles titles than the woman who is second on the list – Steffi Graf, who has won this tournament five times – while Evert and Serena Williams have four titles each. “Playing this tournament,” Navratilova has said, “provided some of the most memorable moments of my career.” The same is true of Evert. Some of the fondest memories from her playing career – and that’s a tennis life that brought her some 18 Grand Slam singles titles – were made at this tournament. It was a 17–year–old,
32 BNP Paribas WTA finals singapore presented by SC global
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Martina Navratilova, Serena Williams and Chris Evert
amateur Evert who won the inaugural tournament. “I won my first year–end title before I won my first Grand Slam title so it was even more special for me,” Evert recalled. “At 17, I was beating all the women on clay. I didn’t mind that I didn’t receive any prize–money because I was still amateur. I wasn’t annoyed that I didn’t get to keep the cheque. I didn’t look at it in that way. Money meant nothing to me at that time. I knew that I would be making money at 18 when I turned pro. I was still a kid, lucky enough to travel the
world and play against the top players – that was enough for me.” Right from the very first staging, Evert said, this was a fabulous event, one worth getting “psyched–up” for. “It has always been huge for the women’s game,” she said. “The tournament helped to grow the women’s tour. This was always a tournament that players got psyched–up for – everyone wanted to do well because the tournament was a culmination of the whole year. We always took a lot of pride in the year–end championships.”
34 BNP Paribas WTA finals singapore presented by SC global
Perhaps the field of 2014 will take the opportunity to speak to the legends on site – they certainly ought to engage them in conversation. What this year’s players are experiencing and feeling isn’t so different from what Austin, and every other former great, went through. Austin, a former singles champion, spoke of “the pride” that her generation – and all subsequent generations – felt on earning a place in the field. Qualification is, among other things, validation. “You always felt pride at qualifying because it meant
tournament has increased from 100,000 US dollars to 6.5 million. Some things, though, remain the same. As was the case in Austin’s time, this year’s field have the chance to go into the off–season on an emotional high. But, as Austin said, there’s no easing into this tournament – from the very first match, you are facing another A–lister. “These players have the opportunity to win a huge title, and there’s also a lot of money available,” she said. “At regular events, you can build your way into the tournament, but you can’t do that at the year–end championships. You need to bring your best tennis right away as you’re facing one of the best players in the world from your first match. There are no easy matches. It’s physically taxing as you’re playing a lot of difficult opponents in a short period of time.” Reinvention has been a key part of this tournament’s history. For a few years, the final was played as the best–of– five–sets, the only time in the year that you might see female players deep into a fifth set (or in a fourth set). In the past, the tournament has been a regular, knockout draw from the start; it has settled on the format in place this year with round–robin matches and then the elimination rounds. The WTA Finals have also travelled widely in recent years, though for the whole of the twentieth century it didn’t leave the United States of America. After two years in Boca Raton, it relocated to Los Angeles from
1974–76, and then moved on to New York City’s Madison Square Garden in 1977. After a year in Oakland in California, the tournament returned in 1979 to Madison Square Garden, where it took up residency until 2000 (two tournaments were held in 1986, both of which Navratilova won, as it moved place in the calendar from March to the end of the season). In 2001, the WTA Finals were played outside the States for the first time, with a year in Munich, but the tournament then returned across the Atlantic, being played in Los Angeles from 2002–5. After two years in Madrid, it moved to Doha for three years, from 2008–10, and then on to Istanbul for three years from 2011–13. Now, until 2018, Navratilova’s exclamation point will be in Singapore, which Serena Williams has described as “an exciting new market for women’s tennis”. And that’s a view shared with Navratilova, Evert, and any other legend that you care to speak to, for they believe that taking this tournament to Asia–Pacific can only help the sport. “Tennis has become so much more international,” said Navratilova. “It’s great to move this tournament around the world and to expose more people to women’s tennis. You want as many people as possible to see the players.” Evert’s view is that bringing this tournament to Asia could make it even stronger: “They’ve done a great job of building it up. And with the tournament being in Singapore, it’s maybe going to be bigger than it has ever been before.” *Mark Hodgkinson is a tennis journalist, author and regular contributor to wtatennis.com. His new book, ‘Game, Set and Match’, will be published by Bloomsbury.
Chris Evert
that you had had a successful year. If you qualified, then you knew you were part of the elite of the game – so it has always been a prestigious tournament to be a part of,” Austin told me. “Just look at what has been happening over the last few weeks – players have been doing whatever it takes to make it here to Singapore. You want to think that you’ve had a successful year.” Much has changed in tennis between 1972 and the present day – for one thing, the prize–money at this
BNP Paribas WTA finals singapore presented by SC global 35
Legendary! By Mark Hodgkinson
Four powerful, uplifting stories - of women who have touched the heights in tennis - will be relived and retold at the Singapore Sports Hub. And these tales and talents, assembled for the first Legends classic at the BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global, will rightly take centre stage. For this is no “It’s so exciting that a Legends contest has been added to what promises to be an amazing 10-day sports festival. It will be a chance to relive memories and also make new ones, and I’m sure I speak for the other legends when I say we’ll all be in it to win it!” said Bartoli.
off-Broadway production; how can it be with a cast list of Marion Bartoli, Martina Navratilova, Tracy Austin and Iva Majoli? For these are stories that will spark something in the minds of several generations of tennis players, inspiring not just those competing in the
BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global, or featuring in the WTA Rising Stars Invitational, but also engaging the teenagers and children watching here and around the world. So the four women will rotate partners in a series of best-of-three-sets matches - all competing for the status of the inaugural legends champion but there is much more to this than the opportunity to reacquaint ourselves with, say, Navratilova’s volley or Bartoli’s shadow swings between points. “With Iva, Martina, Tracy and Marion, we have a WTA Legends Classic that will delight, dazzle and entertain the fans in Singapore,” Stacey Allaster, the WTA’s Chairman and CEO, has said. “These four women embody the traits that make our WTA stars so inspirational talent, effort, personality and charisma.” It’s impossible not to share in the joy that Bartoli felt - and still feels - after achieving her lifetime ambition by winning last season’s Wimbledon title. This kooky Frenchwoman has never been a slave to the tennis orthodoxies and within weeks of attending the Champions’ Dinner she had announced she was retiring with immediate effect. Such is the pleasure that Bartoli took from her Centre Court victory, that she disclosed this summer, on returning to the All England Club to take up a seat in the Royal Box, that she was in the habit of firing up YouTube every couple of days so she could rewatch the moment when she struck an ace past Sabine Lisicki to convert a championship point. Perhaps some in tennis had thought that Bartoli, who had been a runnerup to Venus Williams at the 2007 Wimbledon Championships, would never win a Grand Slam. But that pessimism wasn’t going to stop Bartoli from making the most of her gift for striking tennis balls. Bartoli’s was a triumph that demonstrated that anything is possible, as long as you have the skill, the drive and the ambition.
BNP Paribas WTA finals singapore presented by SC global 37
“I have great memories of competing at this incredible event at Madison Square Garden in New York and I know Singapore is going to be a fantastic host city for the WTA’s prestigious season finale.” said Majoli.
And the same could be said of Majoli’s victory over Martina Hingis in the final of the 1997 French Open; few had imagined that the Croatian had a chance of overcoming the Swiss, who was unbeaten in her first 37 matches of the season. And yet it was Majoli, who roughed up Hingis by clumping her groundstrokes hard and deep, who would lift the trophy. That certainly wasn’t the only time that Majoli thrived under the arclights. On four occasions, Majoli qualified for these year-end Finals, including one season when she reached the semi-finals, while Bartoli has twice been a part of the season finale. Understandably, Navratilova is immensely proud of her achievement of winning 18 Grand Slam singles titles - that puts her level with Serena Williams and Chris Evert, and only Steffi Graf has gathered more in the Open era, with 22 majors. But Navratilova, who as a teenager defected to the United States from communist Czechoslovakia, also speaks with great pride about what she accomplished at this tournament. In addition to holding the record for the most singles titles - she has eight, three more than the second-placed woman on the list, Graf - she also has the largest collection of doubles titles, with eleven. If she is not that near-mythical figure, the greatest female tennis player of all time, she is certainly one of the greatest. It was just before her fiftieth birthday that she won her last major, a mixed doubles trophy, which took her career total to an astonishing 56 Grand Slams - in addition to those singles victories, she won 31 women’s doubles prizes and ten mixed doubles slams. Tennis has never again had a prodigy quite like Austin, a teenager with pigtails, pinafores and great mental fortitude who hijacked the grownup world of professional tennis. The biggest mistake you could make when playing against Austin, Navratilova once observed, was “to think of her as a
child – as if you did, she would beat you”. But even those who showed respect for Austin often found themselves losing to the American, who was just 16 years old when she won the 1979 US Open – and she remains the tournament’s youngest champion. And that wasn’t a one-off for two years later she did it again. In between, she won the 1980 tour championships, a victory that propelled her to the top of the rankings for the first time. Long before she left her teens, she was a great of the game.
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Each member of this quartet will bring their back-story with them to Singapore. Just don’t expect the legends to offer up easy, vanilla shots to their opponents; that competitive fire doesn’t leave you in retirement. “This Legends Event will be a chance to relive memories and also to make new ones,” Bartoli has said, “and I’m sure I speak for the other players when I say we will all be in it to win it.” *Mark Hodgkinson is a tennis author and journalist.
Images Courtesy: Getty Images
WTA LEGENDS profiles
Grand Slam singles titles
18
Martina Navratilova Country: United States Date of Birth: October 18, 1956 WTA titles: 167 Twitter: @Martina
The iconic Martina Navratilova will be a star attraction at the WTA Finals. Navratilova, the most decorated player in the history of the season finale, will be joined by Tracy Austin, Marion Bartoli and Iva Majoli in the WTA Legends Classic invitational. The Grand Slam champions will play first-to-eight-games doubles pro-sets, teaming with a different partner for each match. The legend who accumulates the most points will be crowned WTA Legends Champion. Navratilova compiled an astonishing record at the WTA Finals being crowned champion eight times in singles (1978-79, 1981, 1983-86) and 11 times in doubles (1980, 1981-85, 1986-89, 1991).
Her achievements in Grand Slams are equally impressive with 59 titles in total – 18 singles, 31 women’s doubles and 10 mixed doubles wins during her illustrious career. Only Steffi Graf has won more Grand Slam singles titles in the Open Era, with 22, while Chris Evert and Serena Williams have also won 18. However, Navratilova holds the WTA record for singles titles (167), doubles titles (177) and career match wins (1442). She spent 332 weeks as singles World No.1, second only to Steffi Graf’s 377 weeks, and a record 237 weeks as doubles No.1. Navratilova, who announced her retirement from tennis in 2006, has been referred to by legendary WTA founder Billie Jean King as the “greatest singles, doubles and mixed doubles player who has ever lived.”
Grand Slam singles titles
2
Tracy Austin
Country: United States Date of Birth: December 12, 1962 WTA titles: 30 Twitter: @thetracyaustin Tracy Austin, whose amazing achievements as a teenager are remembered to this day, will play in the WTA Legends Classic at the WTA Finals. The American joins Martina Navratilova, Marion Bartoli and Iva Majoli in the fourplayer field. Austin started re-writing the record books at Portland in 1977, when – at the age of 14 years 28 days – she became the first player to win a WTA title on her singles debut and the youngest-ever singles champion. Two years later, she became the youngest player to win the US Open at the age of 16 years, nine months and went on to win the US Open again in 1981.
Austin also made her mark at the WTA Finals. In 1979, she was runner-up to Navratilova at Madison Square Garden and a year later gained a measure of revenge by beating her rival in the final, afterwards clinching the World No.1 Ranking.
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To this day, Austin remains the youngestever player to be inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame (in 1992, aged 29) and currently she is a popular tennis commentator for television stations in Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States.
Grand Slam singles titles
1
Marion Bartoli
Country: France Date of Birth: October 2, 1984 WTA titles: 8 Twitter: @bartoli_marion
Marion Bartoli, Wimbledon champion just last year before hanging up her racquet, will compete in the WTA Legends Classic at the WTA Finals. The inspirational Frenchwoman joins Martina Navratilova, Tracy Austin and Iva Majoli in the four-player field. In addition to capturing the Wimbledon title in 2013 with victory over Sabine Lisicki in the final, Bartoli reached the championship match at the All England Club in 2007, defeating world number one Justine Henin in the semis before finishing runner-up to Venus Williams.
Grand Slam singles titles
1
Iva Majoli
Country: Croatia Date of Birth: August 12, 1977 WTA titles: 8
Former French Open champion Iva Majoli will grace the WTA Legends Classic at the WTA Finals. The popular Croat joins Martina Navratilova, Tracy Austin and Marion Bartoli in the four-player field. In a career spanning more than a decade, Majoli rose as high as No.4 in the WTA Rankings and won eight WTA singles titles, famously stunning world number one Martina Hingis, then on a 37-match winning streak, in the final at the 1997 French Open. As well as her Grand Slam triumph, she won clay court titles at Hamburg and Charleston and enjoyed success indoors, lifting trophies at Zürich, Filderstadt, Tokyo [Pan Pacific], Essen and Hannover as well as a doubles title at Paris [Indoors]. She qualified for the WTA Finals at New York’s Madison Square Garden on four occasions, advancing to the semifinals in 1996. Majoli represented her native Croatia at the Olympics in 1996 and 2000, and having been a regular member of the country’s Fed Cup Team, was named national captain in 2012.
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Overall, she reached 19 WTA finals, her eight singles titles including Premierlevel wins at the Bank of the West Classic (Stanford) in 2009 and the AEGON International (Eastbourne) in 2011. A semifinalist at her home Grand Slam of Roland Garros in 2011, Bartoli reached at least the quarterfinals at all four majors. She ranked inside the Top 20 every week for the last six years of her career, spending 111 non-consecutive weeks in the Top 10, peaking at No.7. Bartoli competed in the WTA Finals twice, at Madrid (2007) and Istanbul (2011).
On The Rise By Mark Hodgkinson
These are the Bright Young Things of the women’s game. Or, to put it another way, they’re among the emerging talents who excite you, the international tennis public. Of that the WTA can be sure, because you’ve been voting in great numbers – nearly 700,000 votes in all – to bring this quartet to Singapore. For it was tennis enthusiasts now seated here at the Singapore Sports Hub, or following events from around the world, who determined who would feature in the inaugural WTA Rising Stars Invitational. Not that these four players - Shelby Rogers, Zarina Diyas, Monica Puig and Zheng Saisai - have taken a passive role in this process. Lately, these four players have been chasing votes with as much enthusiasm as they hunt down tennis balls. To look at their social media activity - and to see the players mobilising their fanbases - was to appreciate how much they wanted to be involved. For the young women, this event is an opportunity to take a closer look at the elite eight competing in the BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global, and to consider the level they must aspire to if they are to qualify for this tournament. While, for the galleries, this invitational tournament is a chance to preview the sport’s future. In a year, or perhaps in a couple, maybe three, will we see these players back, but in the main event? Responding to the invitation to “vote now - send your favourite WTA Rising Stars to Singapore”, and to select two players from Asia-Pacific, and two from the rest of the world, the public have chosen wisely.
Zheng Saisai
“Tons of fun,” Rogers says of this event, and the 22-year-old American has plainly been enjoying herself this season. As a qualifier, she has been particularly deadly. Take the clay-court tournament in Bad Gastein, in Austria; after coming through the preliminary rounds, she made her presence felt in the main draw. Before arriving at the tournament, she hadn’t even reached a quarterfinal of a WTA event; she went further than that, going all the way to the final with a run that included her first top-20 victories, over
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Spain’s Carla Suarez Navarro and Italy’s Sara Errani. It took Germany’s Andrea Petkovic to stop Rogers from winning her first WTA title. But it was on a hard court in Montreal that Rogers truly announced herself to the wider sporting world - the qualifier defeated Eugenie Bouchard, the Wimbledon finalist. Now for Singapore. “The [WTA Rising Stars Invitational] is a great idea - it will be such an incredible experience,” said Rogers.
Diyas, a 21-year-old who lives in her native Kazakhstan, and who trains in China, has made an impact at the highest level this season. Making the third round of the Australian Open, as well as the last 16 at Wimbledon, and the third round of the US Open, have demonstrated that Diyas can live with the world’s top players. She now counts herself among that group - or, at least, she should do - after breaking into the top 50 this season. Zarina Diyas
Monica Puig
No one should have been in any doubt that Puig felt enormous pride at this year’s Strasbourg tournament when she became the first player representing Puerto Rico to win a WTA title. “It’s amazing to do this coming from a small island, where tennis isn’t necessarily recognised as one of the main sports,” said Puig, 21, who broke into the world’s top 50 last season. “All of the athletes [from Puerto Rico] represent their country as best as they can, and I’m just happy to be playing tennis not just for myself, but for my
Zheng Saisai is currently World No. 112 and China’s fifth-ranked active singles player
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country, too.” Being chosen to compete in the WTA Rising Stars Invitational represents “a great opportunity and also an honour”. The recent retirement of Li Na was reason to ponder the future direction of Chinese women’s tennis. What now? One answer to that question could be 20-year-old Zheng, who as a doubles player has appeared in a Grand Slam semifinal, at last year’s Australian Open, and who as a singles player has started to make her move. This year’s US Open brought a breakthrough when she made her first appearance in the main draw of a Grand Slam singles tournament after coming through three rounds of qualifying, she also won a match in the tournament proper. What next for Zheng, Rogers, Diyas and Puig? Are we looking at the sport’s future? *Mark Hodgkinson is a tennis author and journalist.
WTA rising stars player profiles
The highest-ranked player in the inaugural Rising Stars Invitational, Zarina Diays has had a fantastic WTA season will celebrate her success on the court as well as her 21st birthday (on October 18) at the WTA finals. This season Diyas made her Grand Slam main draw debut after qualifying for the Australian Open in January, and ended up reaching the third round. Her Grand Slam success wasn’t just saved for Melbourne, however, as she also reached the third round at the US Open and the round of 16 at Wimbledon, defeating No. 15 Carla Suarez Navarro and former Wimbledon finalist Vera Zvonareva en route.
Zarina Diyas
Country: Kazakhstan Date of Birth: October 18, 1993 Twitter: @ZarinaDiyas
She recently reached her first WTA singles final, finishing runner-up to Australian Sam Stosur at the Japan Women’s Open in Osaka. She has also reached four WTA quarterfinals, including two in 2014, and currently sits at her career-high ranking of 34, a ranking jump of more than 140 places from this time last year.
WTA Ranking
34
Diyas is truly a global personality, as she was born in Almaty, Kazakhstan; lived in the Czech Republic from age 5-12; and now trains primarily in Guangzhou, China. WTA Ranking as at 13 October
WTA Ranking
63
Monica Puig
Country: Puerto Rico Date of Birth: September 27, 1993 Twitter: @MonicaAce93
WTA Rising Star Monica Puig has established herself as a force to be reckoned with on the court, and one of the most charismatic personalities off the court. The 21-year-old from Puerto Rico won her first WTA title earlier this year in Strasbourg, not dropping a set and defeating top players like Andrea Petkovic and Madison Keys en route. The title propelled her to a career high ranking of No.41.
She has the game to defeat some of the world’s best players, as evidenced by wins over top 20 players including No. 16 Carla Suarez Navarro (2014 Stanford), No.11 Nadia Petrova (2013 Roland Garros) and No.5 Sara Errani (2013 Wimbledon). Off the court, the Puerto Rican is active on social media, rallying fans through her hashtag #PicaPower. She is an avid writer and helped host the WTA’s coverage of the Pre-Wimbledon Party. WTA Ranking as at 13 October
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Shelby Rogers earned her place in the WTA Rising Stars Invitational due in large part to her active fanbase in her hometown of Charleston, South Carolina in the USA.
WTA Ranking
71
Shelby Rogers
Country: United States Date of Birth: October 13, 1992 Twitter: @Shelby_Rogers_
The 22-year-old had a breakthrough season in 2014, climbing more than 50 positions in the WTA rankings. Her big breakthrough came in July when she qualified at Bad Gastien then defeated two top-20 players (No.16 Carla Suarez Navarro and No.14 Sara Errani) to reach her first career WTA final. She followed that up with her first-ever Top 10 win, defeating No. 8 Eugenie Bouchard at the Canadian’s hometown tournament in Montreal to reach the third round. Her push continued last month with a semi-final in Quebec City, which helped her achieve a career high ranking. It is this type of success that has helped fans rally around her, especially in recent weeks as the Rising Star competition ramped up. WTA Ranking as at 13 October
At 20-years-old, Zheng Saisai is the youngest player in the inaugural Rising Stars Invitational and she is starting to see success in both singles and doubles at WTA events. The native of Shaanxi, China has surged late in this season, reaching her first WTA quarterfinal at Hong Kong. Earlier this month, she reached her first WTA semifinals at Tianjin, which pushed her into the Top 100 of the WTA Rankings for the first time in her career. Despite her relative young age and blossoming, but still new talent on the singles circuit, Zheng has achieved success in her young doubles career. In 2013, she achieved her career-high doubles ranking of No.37 while reaching the semifinals of the Australian Open with partner Varvara Lepchenko.
Zheng Saisai
Country: China Date of Birth: February 5, 1994 Sina Weibo: 赛赛vamos
WTA Ranking
92
At 17-years-old, she won the doubles title at 2011 Guangzhou – her first WTA title of any kind. Although she lists her goals as reaching the Top 30 and winning a doubles Grand Slam, the sky’s the limit for this Asian Rising Star. WTA Ranking as at 13 October
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An Extraordinary
Venue It is a proud moment for the Singapore Sports Hub, as it plays host to some of the world’s top tennis players in the BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global. Over the course of the next 10 days, fans from Singapore and across the globe will have the opportunity to experience and interact with Asia’s first fully integrated sports, lifestyle and entertainment hub, which was completed in June 2014. In addition to the on-court action taking place at the Singapore Indoor Stadium, visitors will be treated to world-class
facilities such as the OCBC Aquatic Centre and a vast array of dining and shopping options at the Kallang Wave Mall. At the heart of the 35-hectare Sports Hub lies its crown jewel – the 55,000seat National Stadium, which proudly boasts the world’s largest freespanning dome, a retractable roof and a cooling system to complement Singapore’s climate. Other design features include vibrant red and white seating and external lighting across the dome and roof, which light up the night sky.
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The vast selection of facilities available to the public are aimed at encouraging Singaporeans to lead a more active lifestyle by discovering a new sport or taking up a new activity
Fitted with state-of-the-art Desso GrassMaster system, the National Stadium pitch is one of the few stadiums in the world that can be used for football, rugby, cricket and athletics. Complementing the flexible nature of the pitch are three different seating modes: football and rugby, athletics and cricket, which means the National Stadium can seat between 50,000 and 55,000 people. The National Stadium has already hosted an international football friendly between Japan and Brazil. The National Stadium is so much more than a sporting arena. In June, the Singapore Chinese Orchestra performed in front of a record crowd of over 30,000 while global megastar Mariah Carey is set to perform her critically acclaimed concert “The Elusive Chanteuse” for WTA Finals fans as part of the 10-day tournament’s entertainment offerings. Centre-court will be housed within the iconic Singapore Indoor Stadium, which opened its doors in 1989 and quickly established itself as Asia’s premier entertainment venue by hosting a wide array of acts including Lady Gaga, Bruno Mars and, over the next 10 days, the season-ending WTA Finals.
But the tennis action will not be confined to the Singapore Indoor Stadium alone. With six halls split over two levels, the OCBC Arena has already hosted the Mission Foods Asian Netball Championships and the World University Floorball Championships. Like the National Stadium, the OCBC Arena halls are scalable in size, making them an ideal venue for both public and professional use. One facility that is not part of the WTA Finals but available for public use is the OCBC Aquatic Centre. With a capacity of 3,000 – a number that can double depending on the scale of the event – the OCBC Aquatic Centre is home to three pools that meet FINA standards – a 50-metre competition pool, a 50-metre training pool and a 5-metre deep diving pool. A popular venue among members of the public, the world-class facility is available for public use. Equally popular are the Sports Hub’s beach volleyball courts, where volleyball enthusiasts often find themselves playing alongside young children building sand castles and playing in the sand pits. The beach volleyball courts are part of the Sports Hub’s community facilities, designed to encourage Singaporeans to lead an active and healthy lifestyle.
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Singapore hosted Italian football giants Juventus for the first time in August The iconic Singapore Indoor Stadium, which opened its doors in 1989
OCBC Arena Badminton
For those seeking new perspectives of Singapore, our Water Sports Centre provides the opportunity to experience it from the water. Whether it is renting a canoe and kayak or participating in a kayaking course, visitors can look forward to an enjoyable day out in the Kallang Basin.
The vast selection of facilities available to the public are aimed at encouraging Singaporeans to lead a more active lifestyle by discovering a new sport or taking up a new activity. Alongside community programmes, events such as the WTA Finals form a part of this vision to inspire more Singaporeans to take up sport.
The Sports Hub caters to sports fans and athletes with world-class sporting facilities but the venue is not limited to just sports. It is also specifically designed for the wider community as a public space. The Singapore Sports Museum and Sports Hub Library serves as a one-stop shop for members of the public to discover more about sports and Singapore’s rich sporting heritage.
This marks the first time that the WTA Finals have been held in the AsiaPacific and is another step towards establishing Singapore on the world sporting map. Already a fixture on the Formula One calendar, Singapore also hosted Italian football giants Juventus for the first time in August and fivetime FIFA World Cup winners Brazil played Japan earlier this month.
The Kallang Wave Mall, houses a wide selection of dining and retail options within a 41,000 square metre space that cater to visitors’ shopping and dining needs. Spanning four storeys is a climbing wall designed for both novice and advanced climbers, while a colourful children’s waterpark on the rooftop allows youngsters to cool off.
Looking ahead, the Singapore Sports Hub will be the proud host of the 28th Southeast Asian Games in 2015, where we look forward to showcasing our facilities to neighbours from across the region. As Singapore prepares to celebrate its 50th birthday, the Sports Hub is a glittering symbol of how far this nation has come in sports and entertainment.
The beach volleyball courts by the waterfront are part of the Sports Hub’s community facilities, designed to encourage Singaporeans to lead an active and healthy lifestyle.
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Game. Set.
Singapore It is fair to say that the BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global will not only take the region by storm as it will stage the elite of women’s tennis, but also play host to a plethora of events on and off the court. Indeed fans will be quick to see that the WTA Finals is a world-class sporting spectacle incorporating a fully integrated schedule of events, activities and that most important word – entertainment. Thanks to the efforts and hard work of the WTA, Singapore Tourism Board, Sport Singapore, promoter World Sport Group and the event’s other partners, the biggest 10-day festival in the history of the WTA Finals will be staged in Singapore for the first time. The festival promises something for everyone, from gripping tennis action across 11 sessions of play to off-court entertainment, interactive activities for sport enthusiasts and families at the Fan Zone as well as business and lifestyle events. The Fan Festival Weekend commences proceedings on Friday October 17 and will feature the WTA Rising Stars Invitational matches at the OCBC Arena practice courts. This will see two players from Asia-Pacific – Zheng Saisai (China) and Zarina Diyas (Uzbekistan) – and two from the Rest of the World – Monica Puig (Puerto Rico) and Shelby Rogers (USA) – vying for honours. There will also be player practice sessions, a carnival-like Fan Zone with fun and entertaining activities, and daily scheduled meet-and-greet sessions with players and Legends alike. China’s Li Na – winner of the 2011 French Open and 2014 Australian Open – will also be making a special appearance on Sunday October 19, as will Tracy Austin.
Li Na to meet with fans in Singapore during the WTA Finals
The Fan Zone will be a key component in allowing the tennis audience to grow and bring non-fans into the game. The weekend will also see the start of the WTA Future Stars tournament at the nearby Kallang Tennis centre. Players will be participating from across the region in junior girls under 14s and under 16s categories. On Sunday October 19, a Coaches Conference will also bring a new dimension to the WTA Finals. To be held at the Pan Pacific hotel, guest speakers will include former Wimbledon winner Marion Bartoli, Maria Sharapova’s coach Sven Groeneveld, as well as Wim Fissette, the current coach of Simona Halep (and former coach of Kim Clijsters). It will set the tone for the matches to start the following day at the Singapore Indoor Stadium (SIS) when the first singles round robin matches and WTA Legends Classic matches start.
Sven Groeneveld has become one of the most sought after coaches in world tennis. He has helped players such as Monica Seles, Mary Pierce, Esther Vergeer, Greg Rusedski, Caroline Wosniacki and currently Maria Sharapova win dozens of Grand Slams and other tour titles
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Mariah Carey’s ‘The Elusive Chanteuse Show’ will take place at the new National Stadium on Friday October 25
‘The Elusive Chanteuse Show’ is brought to you by UnUsUal Entertainment
Like the WTA Rising Stars Invitational, the WTA Legends Classic is new to the WTA Finals and will see Martina Navratilova, the winner of eight WTA Finals singles titles and 11 doubles trophies, and her legendary peers Tracy Austin, Marion Bartoli and Iva Majoli competing.
And just as tennis fever grips the nation the tempo will quicken with Mariah Carey performing at the new National Stadium on Friday October 24 at 9pm.
It is a wonderful addition to the WTA Finals with fans able to watch an evening of tennis at SIS followed by a night of music and dance.
Global superstar Mariah is making a return to Singapore after a 14-year hiatus.
The closing weekend of the WTA Finals will focus on the semifinals and finals which will bring the 10-day festival of tennis to an exciting crescendo.
The tennis will come thick and fast during the week especially with the Doubles matches starting on Wednesday.
On the heels of her most critically acclaimed album of her career, “Me. I am Mariah… The Elusive Chanteuse,” the five-time Grammy award winner is on a world tour entitled “The Elusive Chanteuse Show.”
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Tennis will have been the winner and a precedent will have been set to make the ensuing WTA Finals equally as impressive and ensure it is Game Set Singapore.
In fourth grade at school, I’d pull down the world map in our classroom and start pointing to all the places I wanted to visit. I remember spotting Singapore and announcing to my friends that one day I would go there. Now, at 70 years old, I have my chance! It is a privilege to be in a position to share my passion for tennis and it will be an honor to present the trophy to the singles champion of the BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global. To see how our season finale has grown over the past four decades since 1972 is just thrilling. Back then, as now, it was all about elite competition – a stage for the best to test themselves against the very best, where every match is like a major final. Knowing what’s in store for everybody at the Singapore Sports Hub and throughout the city during this 10-day sports entertainment spectacle, it’s the perfect example of what the Original 9 envisioned when we signed $1 contracts with Gladys Heldman in 1970 and set in motion the creation of the tour we all enjoy today. World Sport Group (WSG), our innovative promoter, will take this showcase of iconic champions to a whole new dimension.
With the world’s top eight singles players and doubles teams joined for the first time by WTA Rising Stars and Legends as well as Future Stars from around the Asia-Pacific region – all against the backdrop of an engaging Fan Festival – this is an historic moment for women’s tennis. You, the fans, have a unique opportunity to witness the stars of the WTA, past, present and future, which is so exciting because you can’t underestimate the power of role models. I was ecstatic when Li Na won the French Open at Roland Garros in 2011 – I knew it would change everything, and not just in China. Now we see other young women rising through the ranks from all over Asia-Pacific. Working with WSG and Sport Singapore, the WTA is making tennis more accessible in order to increase active participation and promote healthy lifestyles. Above all, we want you to have fun! Involvement in sport improves a person’s life. Aside from the health benefits, tennis is great for socialising young people because girls and boys can play together. It creates community. It teaches kids how to adapt to situations – how to win, how to understand losing and how to bounce back. It teaches all of us how to lead and support others, how to focus and concentrate. These are life skills that can take you to being the president of a company or even a country. More than that, people who have sport in their life have a joy in them and it’s because of the combination of the physical, the emotional and the mental. It’s empowering and there’s something very special about it. Today, almost 40 countries are represented in the Top 100 of the WTA Rankings, and the players compete on six continents for prize money of more than $118 million – at the WTA Finals alone, $6.5 million is on offer! We are very fortunate to have sponsors like BNP Paribas, who’ve
Clockwise from top-left to right: Valerie Ziegenfuss, Billie Jean King, Nancy Richey, Peaches Bartkowicz, Kristy Pigeon, Gladys Heldman, Rosie Casals, Kerry Melville Reid, Judy Dalton. Julie Heldman not photographed.
* ‘We’ve come a long way, baby!’ was a commonly used early catchcry of the women’s tennis tour.
Billie Jean King is an Official Ambassador of the 2014 BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global and a WTA legend, having risen to World No.1 in both singles and doubles during her playing career. She won 39 Grand Slam titles – 12 in singles, 16 in doubles and 11 in mixed doubles – a record 20 of them at Wimbledon. She was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1987, and is the founder of the WTA.
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supported top tennis for over 40 years. And to have SC Global, a local Singapore company on board for the WTA Finals is fantastic too – as is the insightful backing of the Singapore Tourism Board. In 2014 there is more awareness of women’s sports than ever before, and so much of that is due to the global growth and incredible popularity of the WTA. In tennis, equal prize money has been realized at all four Grand Slam tournaments and several of the WTA’s biggest events. But some nations still do not allow women to compete in athletic pursuits at all. We have so much more ground to cover to be on a level playing field with men’s sports and I think everything that happens in Singapore this week will send a very strong message. Our dream remains the same as it was in 1970 – we want women’s professional tennis to be a place where any girl, anywhere in the world, has the opportunity to play and make a living if she is good enough. Today’s WTA athletes are living our dream and inspiring other young girls to follow in their footsteps.
DOWNLOAD THE OFFICIAL TOURNAMENT APP, CREATED BY SAP, AT WTAFINALS.COM
The WTA Finals are the crown jewel of women’s tennis, and the greatest show in all of women’s sports. Hosting them is a huge undertaking and responsibility, and Singapore is going to deliver an event that has an impact locally, across the Asia-Pacific region and around the world. And somewhere, cheering from the stands, queueing for an autograph or hitting balls with a new hero at a clinic will be a girl or boy who is destined to become Singapore’s first great tennis champion:
BILLIE JEAN KING Founder of the WTA
For more information on the WTA Finals Singapore, visit:
WTAFinals.com #WTAFinals
WTATennis.com /WTA
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The Adventure Begins
At Your Singapore Singapore is a thriving cosmopolitan city that is brimming with diversity with its fascinating mix of culture, language, arts and architecture. Despite its small size, Singapore packs a punch. The city offers a variety of things to see, do and experience.
A visit to Katong Antique House acquainted Martina with Peranakan history and culture
Home to a multi-cultural society, Singapore offers diverse cuisines and dining options that will whet the pickiest eater’s appetite, as well as a peek into a bygone era at various cultural precincts that exude old world charm. At sunset, bright lights add sparkle to the iconic Orchard Road stretch, and the latest hits get
the party started at Clarke Quay and Boat Quay. Singapore’s stateof-the-art facilities and exciting world-class sporting events also attract business travellers and sports enthusiasts alike. A dynamic city that inspires, Singapore is constantly innovating to offer its visitors a unique blend of fresh experiences which sets it apart from other destinations. For a complete list of to-dos in Singapore, visit www.yoursingapore.com to create your own Singapore experience or follow in tennis legend Martina Navratilova’s footsteps!
K
atong Antique House is a twostorey shophouse in the Joo Chiat/Katong enclave, which traditionally has been the preserve of the Peranakans – descendants of 17th century Chinese and Indian immigrants who married non-Muslim natives from the Malay Archipelago. Curated by owner Peter Wee, a fourth-generation Baba Peranakan, it houses every type of traditional Peranakan costumes, crockery and furniture you can imagine. Wee will regale you, like he did Martina, with stories of his heritage in a bona fide Peranakan home setting. Marvel at the intricately woven kasut manek or beaded slippers, charming furniture and wedding costumes.
BNP Paribas WTA finals singapore presented by SC global 63
L
ittle India is Singapore’s Indian enclave. Its charm lies in the many olden-day trades along its alleys and back lanes. Fortunetellers and their parrots, flower vendors selling garlands of jasmine and kachang puteh (roasted nuts) sellers on pushcarts are just some of the interesting sights to be found. Amid the pungent fragrances of spices and blooms is Serangoon Road. Here, stalls sell Ayurvedic massage oils, gold, incense and fabrics. For a glimpse of Hindu rituals, stop by the Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple dedicated to the goddess Kali, or follow in Martina’s footsteps and taste some of the best Indian hawker food in Singapore such as roti prata (dough flat bread) and thosai (Indian-styled pancakes) at Tekka Market and Food Centre. Martina trying her hand at teh tarik or “pulling tea” after sampling local delights at Tekka Market and Food Centre, Little India
Martina touring the National Stadium, part of the new Singapore Sports Hub
S
ingapore Sports Hub is Asia’s first integrated sports, leisure, entertainment and lifestyle destination. Located on a 35-hectare waterfront site close to the heart of Singapore, it is home to the new National Stadium. Martina couldn’t help but whip out her phone to snap a photo of the awe-inspiring sight that is the largest free spanning dome structure in the world. Don’t forget to do the same when you visit!
64 BNP Paribas WTA finals singapore presented by SC global
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warded the 2013 Travellers’ Choice Attraction by TripAdvisor, the sprawling Singapore Botanic Gardens provides great respite from the hustle and bustle of the city.
The National Orchid Garden, lauded as the world’s largest orchid display features over 60,000 plants and orchids. Also found at the Bukit Timah core is the Jacob Ballas Children’s garden—Asia’s first children’s garden—the perfect spot for all children to play, discover and learn about the intricacies of plant life.
Martina admiring the art works on display along Singapore’s iconic shopping belt Orchard Road
S
panning almost 2.2km, Orchard Road is a swanky, one-way boulevard flanked by distinctive and iconic shopping malls, restaurants and hotels. It’s shopping belt offers nearly 800,000 sqm of retail, dining and entertainment options to please any taste or budget - from opulent brands to high street fashion, and exclusive restaurants to budget-friendly joints.
Look out for the Tembusu tree — one of 44 Heritage Trees in the Gardens that is reportedly more than 150 years old. As its flowering seasons are in May - June and October - November, you can catch a whiff of its creamy white flowers during the month of the WTA Finals!
Strike a pose and take a selfie amongst the blooming orchids at the National Orchid Garden located within the Singapore Botanic Gardens
A shopper’s haven and cosmopolitan playground set among a lush, tropical landscape that is ubiquitous in this Garden City. Definitely a stop on any traveller’s itinerary! Martina taking in the “Garden Rhapsody” light show at Gardens by the Bay
O
ne of the Top 10 Indoor Gardens of the World, the Gardens by the Bay features the best of horticultural, sustainability and architectural design, and is filled with wonders from every continent except Antarctica. Explore diverse plant life from around the world displayed in its spectacular Cooled Conservatories that house over 500,000 plants or marvel at the Supertrees - towering vertical gardens that extend into the sky. Relive Martina’s experience of the Garden Rhapsody – a free light and sound show (at 7.45pm and 8.45pm), and watch the Gardens come to life while suspended 22 metres above ground on the OCBC Skyway.
BNP Paribas WTA finals singapore presented by SC global 65
Serving Up
(Future) Success Through its five-year programme aimed at primary school children, SC Global Development hopes to leave a larger tennis legacy beyond the WTA Finals The sport of tennis teaches
As part of the programme’s spirit of being inspired by the best and discovering the fun and sportsmanship that tennis can provide, SC Global will be hosting 200 students from the programme each year at the BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore
endurance, courage and strategy, qualities you want to instil early in life. It is unfortunately not always the most accessible sport given the need for proper space, equipment and coaching. Recognising the relative low participation in tennis in Singapore primary schools, SC Global’s latest social responsibility initiative ‘SC Global Tennis for Every Child’ is aiming to provide every child a chance to experience the joys of playing tennis. Together with Singapore Tennis Association, SC Global has developed a five-year community programme in collaboration with the Singapore Tennis Association (STA) in support of
the BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global. For kids to succeed at any sport, they must first have fun and be motivated to work hard at the sport and achieve their goals. With that in mind, the programme features a modified version of the game using smaller courts, lighter racquets and softer, lower-compression balls that don’t bounce too high making tennis fun and easy to master for young children. More than anything, the programme is a pleasant introduction to tennis in schools as it is cost-efficient and resource friendly in the sense that the sport can be played in any type of indoor games court. “By initiating this community programme, we hope not only to make an exciting impact on the learning journey by children in Singapore, but also to create a lasting legacy for the sport in Singapore after
the WTA Finals concludes here in five years” said Simon Cheong, Chairman and CEO, SC Global. In 2014, the Tennis For Every Child Programme endowed 14 primary schools with modified-tennis equipment sponsored by Wilson Sporting Goods and the relevant International Tennis Federation (ITF) teacher training. With the guidance of STA, these will provide the schools the necessary knowledge and resources to introduce modified tennis as part of the school’s programme. With that in place, the programme also provides subsidised after school programmes by STA through the schools CCA’s for students who show greater interest in the sport. These young players will eventually make up a strong base for future feeder squads to pursue a higher level of tennis training in STA centres outside of schools. Over the next five years, SC Global plans to expand the programme to widen the reach to more primary schools across Singapore. As part of the programme’s spirit of discovering the fun and sportsmanship that tennis can provide, SC Global also hosted 200 students from the programme at the BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global. “When you find love for a sport as a child, the odds are that you will continue to do it for a lifetime,” says SC Global’s Simon Cheong. “Our goal is to instil a passion that will encourage a lifetime of physical activity and the pursuit of excellence through tennis and hopefully inspire a new generation of home grown tennis stars.”
66 BNP Paribas WTA finals singapore presented by SC global
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SINGAPORE’S FIRST SPORTS LUXURY MAGAZINE
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VINTAGE LEATHER It goes without saying that everything looks better in leather. KILLSPENCER, an artisanal workshop based in Los Angeles, has come up with a range of athletic equipment that is meticulously crafted and clad in premium leather as well as suede.
ISSUE 01
THE PINNACLE OF SPORTS LUXURY
Spencer Nikosey, a graduate from Art Center College of Design in Pasadena is the brainchild behind the brand. It all started from a sustainable, waterproof backpack made from used military tarps and canvases. He put the backpacks on the Internet and they were so popular, they were sold out in a short period of time. Buoyed by the success, Nikosey turned his online venture into a full time
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business. The Athletics Collection is one of KILLSPENCER’s latest offerings. The collection exudes an inexplicable vintage feel and looks divine, with its fine leather, careful stitching and subtle gold wordings. According to interview Nikosey gave to Men’s Journal, the balls are made using scraps of leather that are too small to be used on other products, and they are hand woven using a careful process that takes about three hours for each item. Other standout items include the speedball, complete with the swivel and steel mount.
• WTA’s plans for Singapore and the region • The brand new Singapore Sports Hub • Barclays Premier League Preview • Antarctic Ice Marathon • Most Exclusive Golf Clubs IS SUE 01 • SEPTEMBER | OCTOBER 2014
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MVP
“Wimbledon. It’s such a prestigious event and I’d like to have that title with my name under it.” - Ana Ivanovic
T
he Road To Singapore WTA Finals is a yearlong challenge that takes the WTA’s best through 54 tournaments spanning 33 countries. Only the the world’s top eight singles players and top eight doubles teams will qualify.
UEENS OF THE COURT Three of the world’s best female players talk to to share their journey to tennis stardom and analyse their chances on dominating the courts at the state-of-the-art Singapore Sports Hub TEXT: MARIE MONOZCA PHOTOS: WTA, GETTY IMAGES AND ADIDAS
In a world of aces, three queens of the court will be booming through the field when the WTA Finals hits Singapore. One only has Serena Williams standing between her and ultimate supremacy, the other is aiming for another seat in the top-10, and the third is on a steep rise. Will a new venue, a new audience and an even bigger stage see the coronation of a new queen of tennis? ANA IVANOVIC Ana Ivanovic started as many young and aspiring tennis players do, sitting down in front of the television and admiring the top players in action. In her case, she used to fawn over Monica Seles. Her idol inspired her so much, she took down the number of a local tennis school and nagged her parents to take her for lessons. Her parents relented, Ivanovic took up tennis lessons and the rest, as they say, is history. Growing up in Belgrade, she simply immersed herself in the sport, and emerged as Junior Wimbledon runner-up in 2004 and WTA Tour’s Most Improved Player twice, in 2005 and 2007. Because of the dedication needed in top-level tennis, she didn’t have what many people would consider a regular childhood. Nevertheless, she took everything in her stride “I try not to look at it as a sacrifice,” says the player ranked ninth by the WTA as of this writing. “I look at it as a choice that we make. There are a lot of decisions you have to make in order to be a professional athlete. Being a tennis professional is my choice and it’s what I love doing.”
Ivanovic broke out in 2008, winning the French Open and a slew of awards: AIPS Women’s Tennis Player of the Year and the International Tennis Writers Association Ambassador of the Year among others. But when asked which Grand Slam she would love to conquer, the 26-year-old didn’t hesitate. “Wimbledon. It’s such a prestigious event and I’d like to have that title with my name under it.” And though she’s already been ranked the best female player in the world before, Ivanovic knows there’s still a lot for her to accomplish down the road.
Ivanovic was named a UNICEF Ambassador for Serbia in 2007
“Of course, I’m very proud of my Grand Slam win in 2008, being number one, and realising all the dreams that I’ve had,” she says. “But I feel there’s still a lot more to achieve and I’m going to work hard and try to make them happen.” The six-foot right-hander has become as famous for her looks, as well. From 2005 to 2009 she won the tennisreporters.net Sexiest Female Player Award, then placed 11th on FHM’s Sexiest Women in the World list. This year, she was the only sportswoman to make the Maxim Hot 100 List. It is not evident from her glamour shots, but the sixthranked player on the Road to Singapore had a hard time dealing with fame at first. After all, she learned how to play in an empty swimming pool, without an audience. “You know, fame is something that really took getting used to for me. When I started, I didn’t really like playing at centre court,” she explains. “When I became number one, it was overwhelming. But through the years, I learned how to deal with it, and although I’m still not comfortable with it, I see it as part of my job.”
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The premium sections of the National Stadium have cushioned seats
Hidden underneath the stadium is the hydraulic system that pushes and retracts the lower tiered seats. The National Stadium is the only stadium in the world that can adjust its seating configuration for rugby, cricket, football, athletics and concerts
The National Stadium holds the record for the world’s freespanning domed roof. The roof spans 312m in diameter, and it is designed to let in natural sunlight while protecting the interiors from the elements
The turf at the National Stadium uses the Desso GrassMaster system, which is also implemented at world class stadiums globally such as Wembley, Old Trafford and the San Siro. Artificial fibres are injected 18cm into the ground and as the natural grass grow, the roots get intertwined with the artificial fibres. This system is lauded for its versatility, cost-effectiveness and playing comfort
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is a luxury lifestyle magazine for the discerning sports fan who vdemands only the best. We showcase the latest top-of-the-line sports equipment and gadgets, innovative technologies used by world-class sportsmen as well as the most exclusive experiences a sports fan can ever have. This is not your typical sports magazine. relates to the reader who is skilled, well-versed and wants to get ahead of the competition in any way possible. This is why we associate ourselves with champions and we present only the best from the sporting arena.
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BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SCglobal
Official Prize Money Breakdown Singles: Result
Round Robin (RR) Wins
Prize money
Winner
3 RR Wins
US$2,190,000
2 RR Wins*
US$2,047,000
1 RR Win*
US$1,904,000
3 RR Wins
US$1,114,000
2 RR Wins*
US$971,000
1 RR Win*
US$828,000
3 RR Wins
US$606,000
2 RR Wins*
US$463,000
1 RR Win*
US$320,000
Runner Up
Semifinalists
Round Robin Matches
WINS
LOSSES
Prize money
3
3
0
US$569,000
3
2
1
US$426,000
3
1
2
US$283,000
3
0
3
US$140,000
2
2
0
US$406,000
2
1
1
US$263,000
2
0
2
US$120,000
1
1
0
US$243,000
1
0
1
US$100,000
*Assumes plays all three RR matches.
Doubles: Result
Prize money Per Team
Winner
US$500,000
Runner Up
US$250,000
Semifinalists
US$125,000
Quarterfinalists (1st Rd)
US$75,000
BNP Paribas WTA finals singapore presented by SC global 73
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78 BNP Paribas WTA finals singapore presented by SC global
Getting to the Singapore Sports Hub The Singapore Sports Hub is easily accessible via all transport modes. Public transport by MRT and bus are the easiest forms of transport to get here.
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2015 Calendar WEEK OF
PREMIER
SURFACE
INTERNATIONAL
SURFACE
5 Jan
Brisbane
Hard
12 Jan
Sydney
Shenzhen Auckland Hobart
Hard Hard Hard
19 Jan
Australian Open - Melbourne - Hard
26 Jan 2 Feb 9 Feb 16 Feb 23 Feb 2 Mar 9 Mar 16 Mar 23 Mar 30 Mar 6 Apr 13 Apr 20 Apr 27 Apr 4 May 11 May 18 May
Antwerp Dubai
Indoor Hard Hard
Pattaya City Rio de Janeiro
Doha
Hard
Acapulco Monterrey Kuala Lumpur
Hard Clay Hard Hard Hard
Indian Wells
Hard
Katowice Bogota
Indoor Hard Clay
Marrakech TBD
Clay
Strasbourg TBD
Clay
Nottingham ‘s-Hertogenbosch
Grass Grass
Bucharest Bastad Istanbul Bad Gastein Baku Florianopolis Washington D.C.
Clay Clay Hard Clay Hard Hard Hard
Miami Charleston
Clay
Stuttgart
Indoor Clay
Madrid Rome
25 May 1 Jun 8 Jun 15 Jun 22 Jun 29 Jun 6 Jul
Hard
Clay Clay
Roland Garros - Paris - Clay
Birmingham Eastbourne
Grass Grass The Championships - Wimbledon - Grass
13 Jul 20 Jul 27 Jul 3 Aug 10 Aug 17 Aug 24 Aug 31 Aug 7 Sep 14 Sep
Stanford Toronto Cincinnati New Haven
21 Sep
Tokyo
Hard
28 Sep
Wuhan
Hard
5 Oct
Beijing
Hard
Hard Hard Hard Hard
12 Oct
19 Oct
TBD
US Open - Flushing Meadows - Hard
Moscow
Indoor Hard
Quebec City Osaka Seoul Guangzhou Tashkent
Indoor Hard Hard Hard Hard Hard
Linz Hong Kong Tianjin
Indoor Hard Hard Hard
Luxembourg
Indoor Hard
26 Oct
BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global - Indoor Hard
2 Nov
WTA Elite Trophy - Zhuhai - Hard * Two International Tournaments To Be Announced
WTATennis.com /WTA 80 BNP PARIBAS WTA FINALS SINGAPORE PRESENTED BY SC GLOBAL
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