Monday, November 1, 2010
Samantha Stosur
Samantha Jane Stosur (English pronunciation: /ˈstoʊzər/, STOE-zər, born 30 March 1984) is a professional tennis player from Australia with Polish heritage[1], competing in both singles and doubles. She is a former world No. 1 on the WTA Tour in doubles with Lisa Raymond from the United States. In singles, Stosur has notable wins against former No. 1s Ana Ivanović, Jelena Janković, Serena Williams, Dinara Safina, Lindsay Davenport, Amélie Mauresmo, Justine Henin and Caroline Wozniacki. Her career high in singles was World No. 5, achieved on July 5, 2010. Stosur is currently ranked World No. 6 in singles and No. 26 in doubles and was runner up in singles at the 2010 French Open.
Venus Williams
Venus Ebony Starr Williams[2] (born June 17, 1980) is an American professional tennis player who is currently ranked World No. 5 in singles and World No. 5 in doubles. Considered to be one of the greatest women's tennis players of all time,[3] she has been ranked World No. 1 in singles by the Women's Tennis Association on three separate occasions. She became the World No. 1 for the first time on February 25, 2002, becoming the first African American woman to achieve the feat.
Williams is the reigning champion in women's doubles at the Australian Open, the French Open, and the US Open. Her 21 Grand Slam titles ties her for twelfth on the all time list[4] and is more than any other active female player except for her younger sister Serena Williams: seven in singles, twelve in women's doubles, and two in mixed doubles. Her seven Grand Slam singles titles ties her with four other women for twelfth on the all-time list. Her five Wimbledon singles titles ties her with two other women for eighth on the all-time list. She is one of only three women in the Open Era to have won 5 Wimbledon titles. Her dominance on the grass has earned her the title "The Queen of Wimbledon". From the 2000 Wimbledon Championships through the 2001 US Open, Williams won four of the six Grand Slam singles tournaments held. She is one of only 5 women in the open era to win 200 or more main draw grand slam matches. In 2010 Yahoo sports ranked Venus as the 8th greatest female tennis player of all time.
Williams has won three Olympic gold medals, one in singles and two in women's doubles.[5] She has won more Olympic gold medals than any other female tennis player. At the 2000 Sydney Olympics, Williams became only the second player to win Olympic gold medals in both singles and doubles at the same Olympic Games, after Helen Wills Moody in 1924. She holds the record for the fastest serve by a woman in professional tennis; a record speed of 130 mph (210 km/h).
With 43 career singles titles, Williams along with Justine Henin leads active players on the WTA Tour and is tied for 10th overall in all-time titles.[citation needed] Her 35-match winning streak from the 2000 Wimbledon Championships to the 2000 Generali Ladies Linz tournament final, remains the longest winning streak since January 1, 2000.
Venus has played her sister Serena in 23 professional matches since 1998, with Serena winning 13 of these matches as of October 2009. As of July 2009, they have met in eight Grand Slam finals, with Serena winning six times. Between the 2002 French Open and the 2003 Australian Open, they met in all four Grand Slam singles finals, the first time in the open era that the same two players had contested four consecutive Grand Slam finals. The pair have won 12 Grand Slam doubles titles together.
Williams is the reigning champion in women's doubles at the Australian Open, the French Open, and the US Open. Her 21 Grand Slam titles ties her for twelfth on the all time list[4] and is more than any other active female player except for her younger sister Serena Williams: seven in singles, twelve in women's doubles, and two in mixed doubles. Her seven Grand Slam singles titles ties her with four other women for twelfth on the all-time list. Her five Wimbledon singles titles ties her with two other women for eighth on the all-time list. She is one of only three women in the Open Era to have won 5 Wimbledon titles. Her dominance on the grass has earned her the title "The Queen of Wimbledon". From the 2000 Wimbledon Championships through the 2001 US Open, Williams won four of the six Grand Slam singles tournaments held. She is one of only 5 women in the open era to win 200 or more main draw grand slam matches. In 2010 Yahoo sports ranked Venus as the 8th greatest female tennis player of all time.
Williams has won three Olympic gold medals, one in singles and two in women's doubles.[5] She has won more Olympic gold medals than any other female tennis player. At the 2000 Sydney Olympics, Williams became only the second player to win Olympic gold medals in both singles and doubles at the same Olympic Games, after Helen Wills Moody in 1924. She holds the record for the fastest serve by a woman in professional tennis; a record speed of 130 mph (210 km/h).
With 43 career singles titles, Williams along with Justine Henin leads active players on the WTA Tour and is tied for 10th overall in all-time titles.[citation needed] Her 35-match winning streak from the 2000 Wimbledon Championships to the 2000 Generali Ladies Linz tournament final, remains the longest winning streak since January 1, 2000.
Venus has played her sister Serena in 23 professional matches since 1998, with Serena winning 13 of these matches as of October 2009. As of July 2009, they have met in eight Grand Slam finals, with Serena winning six times. Between the 2002 French Open and the 2003 Australian Open, they met in all four Grand Slam singles finals, the first time in the open era that the same two players had contested four consecutive Grand Slam finals. The pair have won 12 Grand Slam doubles titles together.
Serena Williams
Serena Jameka Williams (born September 26, 1981) is an American professional tennis player who is a former World No. 1 and currently ranked World No. 4 in singles and No. 5 in doubles with sister Venus Williams. The Women's Tennis Association has ranked her World No. 1 in singles on five separate occasions. She is considered to be one of the greatest women's tennis players of all-time in a career hampered from numerous injuries.[2] She regained this ranking for the fifth time on November 2, 2009. She became the World No. 1 for the first time on July 8, 2002.
Williams is the reigning champion in both singles and women's doubles at the Australian Open, the reigning singles champion at Wimbledon, and in women's doubles at the French Open. Her 27 Grand Slam titles places her ninth on the all-time list: 13 in singles, 12 in women's doubles, and 2 in mixed doubles. She is the most recent player, male or female, to have held all four Grand Slam singles titles simultaneously and only the fifth woman in history to do so. Her 13 Grand Slam singles titles is sixth on the all-time list.[3] Williams ranks fourth in Grand Slam women's singles titles won during the Open Era, behind Steffi Graf (22 titles) and Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova (18 titles each).[3] She has won more Grand Slam titles in singles, women's doubles, and mixed doubles than any other active female player.
Williams has won two Olympic gold medals in women's doubles.[4] Williams has won more career prize money than any other female athlete in history.[5] Williams is the younger sister of former World No. 1 Venus Williams. They have played each other in 23 professional matches since 1998, with Serena winning 13 of these matches as of October 2009. As of July 2009, they have met in eight Grand Slam finals, with Serena winning six times. Between the 2002 French Open and the 2003 Australian Open, they met in all four Grand Slam singles finals, the first time in the open era that the same two players had contested four consecutive Grand Slam finals. The pair have won 12 Grand Slam doubles titles together.
Williams is the reigning champion in both singles and women's doubles at the Australian Open, the reigning singles champion at Wimbledon, and in women's doubles at the French Open. Her 27 Grand Slam titles places her ninth on the all-time list: 13 in singles, 12 in women's doubles, and 2 in mixed doubles. She is the most recent player, male or female, to have held all four Grand Slam singles titles simultaneously and only the fifth woman in history to do so. Her 13 Grand Slam singles titles is sixth on the all-time list.[3] Williams ranks fourth in Grand Slam women's singles titles won during the Open Era, behind Steffi Graf (22 titles) and Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova (18 titles each).[3] She has won more Grand Slam titles in singles, women's doubles, and mixed doubles than any other active female player.
Williams has won two Olympic gold medals in women's doubles.[4] Williams has won more career prize money than any other female athlete in history.[5] Williams is the younger sister of former World No. 1 Venus Williams. They have played each other in 23 professional matches since 1998, with Serena winning 13 of these matches as of October 2009. As of July 2009, they have met in eight Grand Slam finals, with Serena winning six times. Between the 2002 French Open and the 2003 Australian Open, they met in all four Grand Slam singles finals, the first time in the open era that the same two players had contested four consecutive Grand Slam finals. The pair have won 12 Grand Slam doubles titles together.
Kim Clijsters
Kim Antonie Lode Clijsters (Dutch pronunciation: [kɪm ˈklɛistərs] ( listen); born 8 June 1983) is a Belgian professional tennis player. She is a former World No. 1 ranked player in singles and in doubles. As of 1 November 2010, Clijsters is ranked World No. 3.
Clijsters has won 40 WTA singles titles and 11 WTA doubles titles. She has won three Grand Slam singles titles at the US Open in 2005, 2009 and 2010. She has also won the WTA Tour Championships singles title in 2002, 2003 and 2010. In doubles, she won the French Open and Wimbledon titles in 2003. Clijsters was twice a singles runner-up at the French Open and a one-time runner-up at the Australian Open, also reaching two Wimbledon singles semi-finals. She announced her retirement with immediate effect on 6 May 2007,[1] but almost two years later, on 26 March 2009, she publicly declared her intent to return to the WTA tour for the 2009 summer hard court season.[2] In only her third tournament back, she won her second US Open title, becoming the first unseeded player and wildcard to win the tournament, and the first mother to win a major since Evonne Goolagong in 1980.[3] Clijsters is popularly known as one of the "comeback queens" of tennis
Clijsters has won 40 WTA singles titles and 11 WTA doubles titles. She has won three Grand Slam singles titles at the US Open in 2005, 2009 and 2010. She has also won the WTA Tour Championships singles title in 2002, 2003 and 2010. In doubles, she won the French Open and Wimbledon titles in 2003. Clijsters was twice a singles runner-up at the French Open and a one-time runner-up at the Australian Open, also reaching two Wimbledon singles semi-finals. She announced her retirement with immediate effect on 6 May 2007,[1] but almost two years later, on 26 March 2009, she publicly declared her intent to return to the WTA tour for the 2009 summer hard court season.[2] In only her third tournament back, she won her second US Open title, becoming the first unseeded player and wildcard to win the tournament, and the first mother to win a major since Evonne Goolagong in 1980.[3] Clijsters is popularly known as one of the "comeback queens" of tennis
Vera Zvonareva
Vera Igorevna Zvonareva (Russian: Вера Игоревна Звонарёва, pronounced ['vʲɛrə zvənɐ'rʲɔvə] ( listen); born September 7, 1984) is a professional tennis player from Russia. She was introduced to tennis at the age of six and turned professional in 2000. She has reached a career high and current ranking of World No. 2. Zvonareva has won ten WTA Tour singles titles and reached the finals of the 2008 WTA Tour Championships, 2010 Wimbledon Championships and 2010 US Open. She also was a bronze medalist at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
Caroline Wozniacki 2010
Caroline Wozniacki (born 11 July 1990) is a Danish tennis player. As of 11 October 2010 (2010 -10-11)[update], she is ranked World No. 1 on the WTA Tour and will finish 2010 as World No. 1. She has won twelve WTA singles titles and was the runner-up at the 2009 US Open.
Wozniacki started the 2010 season playing at an exhibition tournament in Hong Kong where she lost two singles matches for Team Europe but won two mixed doubles with Stefan Edberg. In her first WTA tournament of the year, Wozniacki suffered an opening round loss to Li Na of China in Sydney. She was seeded 4th at the Australian Open, her first top-eight seed in a Grand Slam. She again fell to Na, this time in the fourth round, in straight sets. Despite her 4th round exit, Wozniacki achieved her career high ranking of No.3.
As the 2nd seed at Indian Wells, Wozniacki reached the final, despite dropping a set to three players en route. She was defeated by Jelena Janković 6–2, 6–4. With the result, she again achieved a new career high rank of World No. 2.[8] At the Sony Ericsson Open in Miami, Wozniacki lost in the quarterfinals to the newly returned Justine Henin 6–7(5), 6–3, 6–4.
Her next tournament was at Ponte Vedra Beach, where she defeated Olga Govortsova 6–2, 7–5 in the final. Wozniacki then competed at the Family Circle Cup in Charleston. She advanced to the semifinals, where she met Vera Zvonareva. Wozniacki was forced to retire down 5–2 after she rolled her ankle chasing down a short ball at 4–2. The injury was cited as serious.[9][10]
Despite her ongoing ankle injury, she continued to compete in tournaments through the clay court season, suffering early losses in Stuttgart, Rome, Madrid, and Warsaw. Despite her poor clay court season, Wozniacki was seeded 3rd at the French Open. She posted her best result at Roland Garros by advancing to the fourth round, without having dropped a set. There, it took almost three hours for Wozniacki to defeat Flavia Pennetta of Italy 7–6(5), (4)6–7, 6–2. In the quarter finals she lost to Francesca Schiavone, the eventual champion, 6–3, 6–2. Wozniacki partnered Daniela Hantuchová in doubles, but withdrew before their second round match with the Williams sisters due to a right shoulder injury to Hantuchová.
As the defending champion, Wozniacki lost early at the AEGON International, her first grass court tournament of the year. Wozniacki was seeded 3rd at the 2010 Wimbledon Championships. She defeated Tathiana Garbin, Chang Kai-chen and Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova en route to the fourth round, where she was crushed by Petra Kvitová 6–2, 6–0.
Wozniacki was the number 1 seed at the 2010 e-Boks Danish Open. It was the first Danish WTA tournament and was created largely because of Wozniacki's popularity in Denmark. She reached the final where she defeated Klara Zakopalova to win her second title of the year.
In Cincinnati, she lost in the third round to Marion Bartoli 6–4, 6–1. As the number 2 seed in Montreal, Wozniacki was forced to wait two days to play her semifinal match with Svetlana Kuznetsova because of heavy rain. She defeated Kuznetova and Vera Zvonareva back-to-back for her third singles title of the year. As the top seed at New Haven, Wozniacki defeated Nadia Petrova 6–3, 3–6, 6–3 in the final for her third consecutive title there. By virtue of this, she also won the 2010 US Open Series.
Wozniacki in the 2010 US Open
Wozniacki was the top seed at the US Open, due to the withdrawal of World No. 1 Serena Williams. She cruised through to the fourth round with the loss of just 3 games. There, she defeated the 2006 US Open champion Maria Sharapova 6–3, 6–4. She then defeated unseeded Dominika Cibulková 6–2, 7–5 in the quarterfinals but was upset by Vera Zvonareva in the semifinals by a score of 6–4, 6–3. With her semifinal appearance, Wozniacki became only one of two women (the other being Venus Williams) to have reached at least the fourth round of all 4 Grand Slam events in 2010.
Wozniacki's first tournament during the Asian hardcourt season was the Toray Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo. She won back to back three setters against Victoria Azarenka and Elena Dementieva, the latter of which she beat 1–6, 6–2, 6–3 to win her fifth title of the year.
She then entered the Beijing, where after a first round bye, she defeated Sara Errani 6–4, 6–2. In the third round, Wozniacki faced Petra Kvitova (who had heavily defeated her at Wimbledon). Avenging the loss, Wozniacki won the match 6–3, 6–2, replacing World No. 1 Serena Williams as the new World No.1 in the process. She is the second youngest player in WTA history to reach the number 1 position without having won a Grand Slam. She also became the first, and only Danish woman to reach the top ranking. In the quarterfinals, she defeated resurgent former World No.1 Ana Ivanović 7–6(1), 6–4. This was Wozniacki's first win over the Serbian. She then defeated Shahar Peer in the semifinal by a score of 7–5, 6–2 and Vera Zvonareva 6–3, 3–6, 6–3 in the final to win her sixth title of the year and twelfth overall.
At the year-end Sony Ericsson Championships in Doha, Wozniacki was in a group with Francesca Schiavone, Samantha Stosur and Elena Dementieva. She defeated Dementieva 6–1, 6–1 in her first round robin game, but lost 6–4, 6–3 to Stosur in the second. She won her last match in the group against Schiavone 3–6, 6–1, 6–1; securing the year-end World No. 1 rank, and a place in the semifinals against the winner of the other group, Vera Zvonareva. Wozniacki won 7–5, 6–0. In the final Wozniacki lost 3-6, 7-5, 3-6 to Kim Clijsters.
Wozniacki started the 2010 season playing at an exhibition tournament in Hong Kong where she lost two singles matches for Team Europe but won two mixed doubles with Stefan Edberg. In her first WTA tournament of the year, Wozniacki suffered an opening round loss to Li Na of China in Sydney. She was seeded 4th at the Australian Open, her first top-eight seed in a Grand Slam. She again fell to Na, this time in the fourth round, in straight sets. Despite her 4th round exit, Wozniacki achieved her career high ranking of No.3.
As the 2nd seed at Indian Wells, Wozniacki reached the final, despite dropping a set to three players en route. She was defeated by Jelena Janković 6–2, 6–4. With the result, she again achieved a new career high rank of World No. 2.[8] At the Sony Ericsson Open in Miami, Wozniacki lost in the quarterfinals to the newly returned Justine Henin 6–7(5), 6–3, 6–4.
Her next tournament was at Ponte Vedra Beach, where she defeated Olga Govortsova 6–2, 7–5 in the final. Wozniacki then competed at the Family Circle Cup in Charleston. She advanced to the semifinals, where she met Vera Zvonareva. Wozniacki was forced to retire down 5–2 after she rolled her ankle chasing down a short ball at 4–2. The injury was cited as serious.[9][10]
Despite her ongoing ankle injury, she continued to compete in tournaments through the clay court season, suffering early losses in Stuttgart, Rome, Madrid, and Warsaw. Despite her poor clay court season, Wozniacki was seeded 3rd at the French Open. She posted her best result at Roland Garros by advancing to the fourth round, without having dropped a set. There, it took almost three hours for Wozniacki to defeat Flavia Pennetta of Italy 7–6(5), (4)6–7, 6–2. In the quarter finals she lost to Francesca Schiavone, the eventual champion, 6–3, 6–2. Wozniacki partnered Daniela Hantuchová in doubles, but withdrew before their second round match with the Williams sisters due to a right shoulder injury to Hantuchová.
As the defending champion, Wozniacki lost early at the AEGON International, her first grass court tournament of the year. Wozniacki was seeded 3rd at the 2010 Wimbledon Championships. She defeated Tathiana Garbin, Chang Kai-chen and Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova en route to the fourth round, where she was crushed by Petra Kvitová 6–2, 6–0.
Wozniacki was the number 1 seed at the 2010 e-Boks Danish Open. It was the first Danish WTA tournament and was created largely because of Wozniacki's popularity in Denmark. She reached the final where she defeated Klara Zakopalova to win her second title of the year.
In Cincinnati, she lost in the third round to Marion Bartoli 6–4, 6–1. As the number 2 seed in Montreal, Wozniacki was forced to wait two days to play her semifinal match with Svetlana Kuznetsova because of heavy rain. She defeated Kuznetova and Vera Zvonareva back-to-back for her third singles title of the year. As the top seed at New Haven, Wozniacki defeated Nadia Petrova 6–3, 3–6, 6–3 in the final for her third consecutive title there. By virtue of this, she also won the 2010 US Open Series.
Wozniacki in the 2010 US Open
Wozniacki was the top seed at the US Open, due to the withdrawal of World No. 1 Serena Williams. She cruised through to the fourth round with the loss of just 3 games. There, she defeated the 2006 US Open champion Maria Sharapova 6–3, 6–4. She then defeated unseeded Dominika Cibulková 6–2, 7–5 in the quarterfinals but was upset by Vera Zvonareva in the semifinals by a score of 6–4, 6–3. With her semifinal appearance, Wozniacki became only one of two women (the other being Venus Williams) to have reached at least the fourth round of all 4 Grand Slam events in 2010.
Wozniacki's first tournament during the Asian hardcourt season was the Toray Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo. She won back to back three setters against Victoria Azarenka and Elena Dementieva, the latter of which she beat 1–6, 6–2, 6–3 to win her fifth title of the year.
She then entered the Beijing, where after a first round bye, she defeated Sara Errani 6–4, 6–2. In the third round, Wozniacki faced Petra Kvitova (who had heavily defeated her at Wimbledon). Avenging the loss, Wozniacki won the match 6–3, 6–2, replacing World No. 1 Serena Williams as the new World No.1 in the process. She is the second youngest player in WTA history to reach the number 1 position without having won a Grand Slam. She also became the first, and only Danish woman to reach the top ranking. In the quarterfinals, she defeated resurgent former World No.1 Ana Ivanović 7–6(1), 6–4. This was Wozniacki's first win over the Serbian. She then defeated Shahar Peer in the semifinal by a score of 7–5, 6–2 and Vera Zvonareva 6–3, 3–6, 6–3 in the final to win her sixth title of the year and twelfth overall.
At the year-end Sony Ericsson Championships in Doha, Wozniacki was in a group with Francesca Schiavone, Samantha Stosur and Elena Dementieva. She defeated Dementieva 6–1, 6–1 in her first round robin game, but lost 6–4, 6–3 to Stosur in the second. She won her last match in the group against Schiavone 3–6, 6–1, 6–1; securing the year-end World No. 1 rank, and a place in the semifinals against the winner of the other group, Vera Zvonareva. Wozniacki won 7–5, 6–0. In the final Wozniacki lost 3-6, 7-5, 3-6 to Kim Clijsters.
Tournament categories
The current tournament structure was introduced in 2009. Premier Tournaments replaced the previous Tier I and Tier II events, and International Tournaments replaced Tier III and IV events.
1. Grand Slam tournaments (4)
2. Year-ending championships (Sony Ericsson Championships).
3. Premier tournaments:
1. Premier Mandatory: Four combined tournaments with male professional players, with U.S.$4.5 million in equal prize money for men and women. These tournaments are being held in Indian Wells, Key Biscayne, Madrid, and Beijing.
2. Premier Five: Five $2 million events in Dubai, Rome, Cincinnati, Toronto / Montreal, and Tokyo
3. Premier: Ten events with prize money from U.S.$600,000 to U.S.$1 million.
4. International tournaments There are 31 tournaments, with a prize money for every event at U.S.$220,000, except for the year-ending Commonwealth Bank Tournament of Champions in Bali, which has prize money of U.S.$600,000.
Ranking points are also available at tournaments on the ITF Women's Circuit organised by the International Tennis Federation, which comprises several hundred tournaments each year with prize funds ranging from U.S. $10,000 to U.S. $100,000, and at the Olympic Games.
1. Grand Slam tournaments (4)
2. Year-ending championships (Sony Ericsson Championships).
3. Premier tournaments:
1. Premier Mandatory: Four combined tournaments with male professional players, with U.S.$4.5 million in equal prize money for men and women. These tournaments are being held in Indian Wells, Key Biscayne, Madrid, and Beijing.
2. Premier Five: Five $2 million events in Dubai, Rome, Cincinnati, Toronto / Montreal, and Tokyo
3. Premier: Ten events with prize money from U.S.$600,000 to U.S.$1 million.
4. International tournaments There are 31 tournaments, with a prize money for every event at U.S.$220,000, except for the year-ending Commonwealth Bank Tournament of Champions in Bali, which has prize money of U.S.$600,000.
Ranking points are also available at tournaments on the ITF Women's Circuit organised by the International Tennis Federation, which comprises several hundred tournaments each year with prize funds ranging from U.S. $10,000 to U.S. $100,000, and at the Olympic Games.
WTA History
The predecessor of the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) Tour, the Virginia Slims Circuit, was formed in September 1970, after nine tennis players, led by Billie Jean King, signed $1 contracts with Gladys Heldman of World Tennis publications. The other eight players who pledged to compete were Rosemary Casals, Nancy Richey, Kerry Melville Reid, Peaches Bartkowicz, Kristy Pigeon, Judy Tegart Dalton, Valerie Ziegenfuss, and Julie Heldman. Gladys Heldman, and a team that included associates of hers such as Joe Cullman, helped provide the foundation for the first women's professional tennis circuit. The Philip Morris cigarette brand Virginia Slims provided financial backing, and on 23 September 1970, the inaugural Virginia Slims of Houston was held, paving the way for many others of its kind. The circuit was composed of 19 tournaments, all based in the United States (one in Puerto Rico),[1] and prize money totalled $309,100.[2]
Formation of the Virginia Slims Circuit resulted in part from changes that tennis was undergoing at the time and from the way prize moneys were distributed. During the first two years of the open era, a large number of male players began playing professionally, and the tournaments in which they competed, often men's and women's combined events, attracted increased investment. The International Lawn Tennis Federation (ILTF) began dropping several women's competitions from the tournaments it presided over. For example, in 1970, the ILTF sanctioned 15 men-only tournaments, all of which had previously been combined events.[3]
The WTA attributes a large part of its development to a meeting held the week before the 1973 Wimbledon Championships. The meeting, held at Gloucester Hotel in London, united all of women's professional tennis in one tour. In 1975, the WTA increased its financial stature by signing a television broadcast contract with CBS, the first in the WTA's history. Further financial developments ensued. In 1976, Colgate assumed sponsorship of the WTA Tour from April to November. In 1979, Avon replaced Virginia Slims as the sponsor of the winter circuit, and in its first year offered the largest prize fund for a single tournament, $100,000 for the Avon Championships, in the WTA Tour's history.[2] The Colgate Series, renamed the Toyota Series in 1981, included tournaments from the across the world, whereas the Avon sponsored events took place solely in the U.S. The two circuits merged beginning with the 1983 season, when Virginia Slims returned to take full sponsorship rights of the WTA Tour. Every tournament under the administration of the WTA now became part of the Virginia Slims World Championships Series.[1][2]
The WTA Tour continued to expand during these years. By 1980, over 250 women were playing professionally, and the tour consisted of 47 global events, offering a total of $7.2 million in prize money. These increased financial opportunities allowed for groundbreaking developments not only in tennis, but across women's sports. In 1971, King became the first female athlete to surpass $100,000 in earnings for a single year.[1][4] Chris Evert became the female athlete to win over $1,000,000 in career earnings in 1976. And Martina Navratilova became the first to win over $1,000,000 in a single year in 1982. Navratilova's single year earnings exceeded $2 million in 1984. In 1997, Martina Hingis became the first to earn over $3 million during a single year. In 2003, Kim Clijsters surpassed $4 million in earnings for a single year. In 2006, the WTA and players such as Venus Williams pushed for equal prize money to men at both the French Open and Wimbledon. Both of these Grand Slam events relented in 2007 and awarded equal money for the first time. This enabled Justine Henin, who won the French Open in 2007, to earn over $5 million that year, becoming the first woman in sports to do this.[5] In 2009, Serena Williams beat that by earning a record of over $6.5 million in a single year.
Larry Scott became Chairman and CEO of the WTA on April 16, 2003.[6] While at the WTA, Scott put together the largest sponsorship in the history of women's athletics, a six-year, $88-million sponsorship deal with Sony Ericsson.[6][7][8] On March 24, 2009, Scott announced that he was resigning as WTA chief in order to take up a new position as the Commissioner of the Pacific-10 Conference on July 1, 2009.[7][8][9] On July 13, 2009, WTA Tour announced the appointment of Stacey Allaster, the Tour's President since 2006, as the new Chairman and CEO of the WTA.
Formation of the Virginia Slims Circuit resulted in part from changes that tennis was undergoing at the time and from the way prize moneys were distributed. During the first two years of the open era, a large number of male players began playing professionally, and the tournaments in which they competed, often men's and women's combined events, attracted increased investment. The International Lawn Tennis Federation (ILTF) began dropping several women's competitions from the tournaments it presided over. For example, in 1970, the ILTF sanctioned 15 men-only tournaments, all of which had previously been combined events.[3]
The WTA attributes a large part of its development to a meeting held the week before the 1973 Wimbledon Championships. The meeting, held at Gloucester Hotel in London, united all of women's professional tennis in one tour. In 1975, the WTA increased its financial stature by signing a television broadcast contract with CBS, the first in the WTA's history. Further financial developments ensued. In 1976, Colgate assumed sponsorship of the WTA Tour from April to November. In 1979, Avon replaced Virginia Slims as the sponsor of the winter circuit, and in its first year offered the largest prize fund for a single tournament, $100,000 for the Avon Championships, in the WTA Tour's history.[2] The Colgate Series, renamed the Toyota Series in 1981, included tournaments from the across the world, whereas the Avon sponsored events took place solely in the U.S. The two circuits merged beginning with the 1983 season, when Virginia Slims returned to take full sponsorship rights of the WTA Tour. Every tournament under the administration of the WTA now became part of the Virginia Slims World Championships Series.[1][2]
The WTA Tour continued to expand during these years. By 1980, over 250 women were playing professionally, and the tour consisted of 47 global events, offering a total of $7.2 million in prize money. These increased financial opportunities allowed for groundbreaking developments not only in tennis, but across women's sports. In 1971, King became the first female athlete to surpass $100,000 in earnings for a single year.[1][4] Chris Evert became the female athlete to win over $1,000,000 in career earnings in 1976. And Martina Navratilova became the first to win over $1,000,000 in a single year in 1982. Navratilova's single year earnings exceeded $2 million in 1984. In 1997, Martina Hingis became the first to earn over $3 million during a single year. In 2003, Kim Clijsters surpassed $4 million in earnings for a single year. In 2006, the WTA and players such as Venus Williams pushed for equal prize money to men at both the French Open and Wimbledon. Both of these Grand Slam events relented in 2007 and awarded equal money for the first time. This enabled Justine Henin, who won the French Open in 2007, to earn over $5 million that year, becoming the first woman in sports to do this.[5] In 2009, Serena Williams beat that by earning a record of over $6.5 million in a single year.
Larry Scott became Chairman and CEO of the WTA on April 16, 2003.[6] While at the WTA, Scott put together the largest sponsorship in the history of women's athletics, a six-year, $88-million sponsorship deal with Sony Ericsson.[6][7][8] On March 24, 2009, Scott announced that he was resigning as WTA chief in order to take up a new position as the Commissioner of the Pacific-10 Conference on July 1, 2009.[7][8][9] On July 13, 2009, WTA Tour announced the appointment of Stacey Allaster, the Tour's President since 2006, as the new Chairman and CEO of the WTA.
About WTA
The Women's Tennis Association, formed in 1973, is the principal organizing body of women's professional tennis. It organizes the WTA Tour, the worldwide professional tennis tour for women, which has for sponsorship reasons been known since 2005 as The Sony Ericsson WTA Tour. Its counterpart organization in the men's professional game is the Association of Tennis Professionals.
The Women's Tennis Association can trace its origins back to Houston, Texas when the inaugural Virginia Slims event was won on 23 September 1970. Billie Jean King was a major figure in the early days of the WTA. The WTA's corporate headquarters is in St. Petersburg, Florida. The European headquarters is in London, and the Asia-Pacific headquarters is in Beijing.
The Women's Tennis Association can trace its origins back to Houston, Texas when the inaugural Virginia Slims event was won on 23 September 1970. Billie Jean King was a major figure in the early days of the WTA. The WTA's corporate headquarters is in St. Petersburg, Florida. The European headquarters is in London, and the Asia-Pacific headquarters is in Beijing.
WTA Tennis Player 2010
Akgul Amanmuradova - Uzbekistan
Sofia Arvidsson - Sweden
Victoria Azarenka - Belarus
Timea Bacsinszky - Switzerland
Elena Baltacha - Great Britain
Sybille Bammer - Austria
Kristina Barrois - Germany
Marion Bartoli - France
Iveta Benesova - Czech Republic
Alona Bondarenko - Ukraine
Kateryna Bondarenko - Ukraine
Anna Chakvetadze - Russia
Yung-Jan Chan - Chinise Taipei
Kai-Chen Chang - Chinise Taipei
Dominika Cibulkova - Slovakia
Sorana Cirstea - Romania
Kim Clijsters - Belgium
Alize Cornet - France
Jill Craybas - USA
Kimiko Date Krumm - Japan
Elena Dementieva - Russia
Jelena Dokic - Australia
Alexandra Dulgheru - Romania
Gisela Dulko - Argentina
Vera Dushevina - Russia
Sara Errani - Italy
Kirsten Flipkens - Belgium
Edina Gallovits - Romania
Tathiana Garbin - Italy
Alexa Glatch - USA
Julia Goerges - Germany
Tatiana Golovin - France
Olga Govortsova - Belarus
Anna-Lena Groenefeld - Germany
Jarmila Groth - Australia
Simona Halep - Romania
Daniela Hantuchova - Slovakia
Ashley Harkleroad - USA
Angela Haynes - USA
Justine Henin - Belgium
Polona Hercog - Slovenia
Ana Ivanovic - Serbia
Jelena Jankovic - Serbia
Zheng Jie - China
Bojana Jovanovski - Serbia
Kaia Kanepi - Estonia
Angelique Kerber - Germany
Vania King - USA
Maria Kirilenko - Russia
Alisa Kleybanova - Russia
Michaella Krajicek - Netherlands
Alla Kudryavtseva - Russia
Regina Kulikova - Russia
Svetlana Kuznetsova - Russia
Petra Kvitova - Czech Republic
Michelle Larcher de Brito - Portugal
Johanna Larsson - Sweden
Na Li - China
Sabine Lisicki - Germany
Ekaterina Makarova - Russia
Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez - Spain
Bethanie Mattek-Sands - USA
Amelie Mauresmo - France
Anabel Medina Garrigues - Spain
Yvonne Meusburger - Austria
Sania Mirza - India
Alicia Molik - Australia
Ayumi Morita - Japan
Monica Niculescu - Romania
Zuzana Ondraskova - Czech Republic
Melanie Oudin - USA
Arantxa Parra Santonja - Spain
Tamira Paszek - Austria
Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova - Russia
Shahar Peer - Israel
Flavia Pennetta - Italy
Shenay Perry - USA
Ksenia Pervak - Russia
Andrea Petkovic - Germany
Nadia Petrova - Russia
Mary Pierce - France
Tsvetana Pironkova - Bulgaria
Agnieszka Radwanska - Poland
Virginie Razzano - France
Aravane Rezai - France
Anastasia Rodionova - Australia
Magdalena Rybarikova - Slovakia
Lucie Safarova - Czech Republic
Dinara Safina - Russia
Chanelle Scheepers - South Africa
Francesca Schiavone - Italy
Patty Schnyder - Switzerland
Anastasija Sevastova - Latvia
Maria Sharapova - Russia
Meghann Shaughnessy - USA
Peng Shuai - China
Yaroslava Shvedova - Kazakhstan
Katarina Srebotnik - Slovakia
Samantha Stosur - Australia
Carla Suarez Navarro - Spain
Agnes Szavay - Hungary
Tamarine Tanasugarn - Thailand
Nicole Vaidisova - Czech Republic
Elena Vesnina - Russia
Roberta Vinci - Italy
Renata Voracova - Czech Republic
Yanina Wickmayer - Belgium
Serena Williams - USA
Venus Williams - USA
Caroline Wozniacki - Denmark
Aleksandra Wozniak - Canada
Sandra Zahlavova - Czech Republic
Barbora Zahlavova Strycova - Czech Republic
Klara Zakopalova - Czech Republic
Shuai Zhang - China
Vera Zvonareva - Russia
Sofia Arvidsson - Sweden
Victoria Azarenka - Belarus
Timea Bacsinszky - Switzerland
Elena Baltacha - Great Britain
Sybille Bammer - Austria
Kristina Barrois - Germany
Marion Bartoli - France
Iveta Benesova - Czech Republic
Alona Bondarenko - Ukraine
Kateryna Bondarenko - Ukraine
Anna Chakvetadze - Russia
Yung-Jan Chan - Chinise Taipei
Kai-Chen Chang - Chinise Taipei
Dominika Cibulkova - Slovakia
Sorana Cirstea - Romania
Kim Clijsters - Belgium
Alize Cornet - France
Jill Craybas - USA
Kimiko Date Krumm - Japan
Elena Dementieva - Russia
Jelena Dokic - Australia
Alexandra Dulgheru - Romania
Gisela Dulko - Argentina
Vera Dushevina - Russia
Sara Errani - Italy
Kirsten Flipkens - Belgium
Edina Gallovits - Romania
Tathiana Garbin - Italy
Alexa Glatch - USA
Julia Goerges - Germany
Tatiana Golovin - France
Olga Govortsova - Belarus
Anna-Lena Groenefeld - Germany
Jarmila Groth - Australia
Simona Halep - Romania
Daniela Hantuchova - Slovakia
Ashley Harkleroad - USA
Angela Haynes - USA
Justine Henin - Belgium
Polona Hercog - Slovenia
Ana Ivanovic - Serbia
Jelena Jankovic - Serbia
Zheng Jie - China
Bojana Jovanovski - Serbia
Kaia Kanepi - Estonia
Angelique Kerber - Germany
Vania King - USA
Maria Kirilenko - Russia
Alisa Kleybanova - Russia
Michaella Krajicek - Netherlands
Alla Kudryavtseva - Russia
Regina Kulikova - Russia
Svetlana Kuznetsova - Russia
Petra Kvitova - Czech Republic
Michelle Larcher de Brito - Portugal
Johanna Larsson - Sweden
Na Li - China
Sabine Lisicki - Germany
Ekaterina Makarova - Russia
Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez - Spain
Bethanie Mattek-Sands - USA
Amelie Mauresmo - France
Anabel Medina Garrigues - Spain
Yvonne Meusburger - Austria
Sania Mirza - India
Alicia Molik - Australia
Ayumi Morita - Japan
Monica Niculescu - Romania
Zuzana Ondraskova - Czech Republic
Melanie Oudin - USA
Arantxa Parra Santonja - Spain
Tamira Paszek - Austria
Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova - Russia
Shahar Peer - Israel
Flavia Pennetta - Italy
Shenay Perry - USA
Ksenia Pervak - Russia
Andrea Petkovic - Germany
Nadia Petrova - Russia
Mary Pierce - France
Tsvetana Pironkova - Bulgaria
Agnieszka Radwanska - Poland
Virginie Razzano - France
Aravane Rezai - France
Anastasia Rodionova - Australia
Magdalena Rybarikova - Slovakia
Lucie Safarova - Czech Republic
Dinara Safina - Russia
Chanelle Scheepers - South Africa
Francesca Schiavone - Italy
Patty Schnyder - Switzerland
Anastasija Sevastova - Latvia
Maria Sharapova - Russia
Meghann Shaughnessy - USA
Peng Shuai - China
Yaroslava Shvedova - Kazakhstan
Katarina Srebotnik - Slovakia
Samantha Stosur - Australia
Carla Suarez Navarro - Spain
Agnes Szavay - Hungary
Tamarine Tanasugarn - Thailand
Nicole Vaidisova - Czech Republic
Elena Vesnina - Russia
Roberta Vinci - Italy
Renata Voracova - Czech Republic
Yanina Wickmayer - Belgium
Serena Williams - USA
Venus Williams - USA
Caroline Wozniacki - Denmark
Aleksandra Wozniak - Canada
Sandra Zahlavova - Czech Republic
Barbora Zahlavova Strycova - Czech Republic
Klara Zakopalova - Czech Republic
Shuai Zhang - China
Vera Zvonareva - Russia
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)