Singapore to host WTA Championships from 2014

SINGAPORE: Singapore was named as host of the glitzy WTA Championships in a five-year deal from 2014 on Wednesday, in a major boost for tennis in Asia.

The wealthy Southeast Asian city-state beat out rival bids from China's
Tianjin and Monterrey in Mexico for the season finale, which next year will boast a record purse of $6.5 million.

"This is the largest and most significant WTA Championships partnership in our history. It's a record-breaker," said Stacey Allaster, chairwoman and CEO of the Women's Tennis Association (WTA).

The season-ending event features the top eight women's players and from
next year, the eight leading women's doubles pairs. It will be the Asia-Pacific region's second biggest tennis tournament after the Australian Open Grand Slam.

It is also a major addition to Singapore's portfolio of sports events alongside its Formula One grand prix and big men's and women's golf tournaments.

The WTA has placed a strong emphasis on Asia with a record number of
tournaments in the region this year, and more due for the 2014 season including five in China alone.

The push is largely due to China's Li Na, who became Asia's first Grand Slam winner in 2011 and reached her second Australian Open final this year, gaining such a profile that she appeared on Time magazine's cover last month. (AFP)