·         ·Asia’s first Grand Slam singles champion won Roland Garros in 2011 and the Australian Open in 2014

·         Li’s career-high singles ranking of No.2 is the best ever achieved by a player from Asia and her success inspired a generation

ST PETERSBURG, FL, USA – Chinese tennis trailblazer and reigning Australian Open champion Li Na today brought down the curtain on a glittering 15-year professional career with the announcement of her official retirement from the Women's Tennis Association (WTA). Winner of nine WTA singles titles, two doubles titles and a two-time Grand Slam champion, the 32-year-old marks the end of a career that saw her become one of the very best and most popular players in the history of women’s tennis.

Serena Williams on Sunday, September 7, 2014, tied Martina Navratilova and Chris Evert with 18 grand slam titles won and stood alone as the only African-American woman to ever accomplish such a feat as she defeated Caroline Wozniacki 6:3 6:3 in straight sets. Williams ties Evert’s Open Era record for most US Open titles with her sixth. She is also the second player in the Open Era to capture at least three straight US Opens, with Evert having won her fourth straight in 1978.

Williams, who turns 33 later this month, is the second-oldest player to win a Grand Slam title in the Open Era after 33-year-old 1990 Wimbledon champion Navratilova. She walked away with a $4 million payout, $3 million for winning the US Open title and a $1 million bonus for having also won the Emirates Airline US Open Series, is the biggest prize money payout in the history of the sport, male or female.

Eccentric Frenchman Gael Monfils booked his US Open quarter final berth where he will face former number one Roger Federer in match that has already been predicted to explode with fireworks.

Monfils defeated world number seven Grigor Dimitrov 7-5, 7-6 (6), 7-5, lifting himself into the quarter finals for only the second time in his eight US Open appearances. In the scotching hot Tuesday at the Ashes Court, Monfils put up a brave performance against his much fancied rival although his actions on court seemed to suggest that he didn’t enjoy much of it.

He appeared upset as he vented out in his native French while staring at his racket. On one or two points, he simply stopped playing. He returned one of Dimitrov’s serves straight into the stands on purpose. He even went on to argue with the umpire.

· French great joins Martina Navratilova and Tracy Austin in 4-player field, as WTA Finals incorporate a Legends Event for the first time

· Bartoli won eight singles titles, including 2013 Wimbledon, and rose to No.7 in the world rankings  

 

ST. PETERSBURG, FL, USA - The Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) announced today that 2013 Wimbledon champion Marion Bartoli will play in the inaugural WTA Legends Event at the BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global. The 29-year-old French star joins Martina Navratilova and Tracy Austin in the four-player field, with the participation of another legend of women’s tennis to be announced shortly.

For the first time in the 44-year history of the WTA Finals a city in Asia-Pacific will host the prestigious year-end event, which will take place during October 17-26, 2014, and through 2018. A Legends match is scheduled for Session 1 (Monday, October 20), Session 4 (Wednesday, October 22) and Session 6 (Thursday, October 24), admission covered by the ticket price for the respective session. Over the course of the three sessions each Legend will play three best-of-three-set doubles matches in round robin, rotating partners, with the player who accumulates the most points to be crowned Legends Champion.­­­

“During my playing career I had the honor of competing in the WTA Finals at Madrid and Istanbul, so I can’t wait to see what Singapore has in store to take our season finale to new heights,” said Bartoli. “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!”

Photo Caption: Former WTA World No.1 Tracy Austin poses with the Road to Singapore Sign to mark the announcement of her participation in the inaugural Legends Event at the BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global, which will take place from October 17-26, 2014. (credit: Getty Images)

·          Austin joins Martina Navratilova in 4-player field, as the 2014 WTA Finals incorporates a Legends Event for the first time

·          Including the WTA Finals in 1980, Austin won 30 singles titles and was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame

ST. PETERSBURG, FL, USA – The Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) announced today that former World No.1 Tracy Austin will play in the inaugural WTA Legends Event at the BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global. Austin joins Martina Navratilova in the four-player field, with the participation of a further two legends of women’s tennis to be announced shortly.

For the first time in the 44-year history of the WTA Finals a city in Asia-Pacific will host the prestigious year-end event, which will take place during October 17-26, 2014, and through 2018. A Legends match is scheduled for Session 1 (Monday, October 20), Session 4 (Wednesday, October 22) and Session 6 (Thursday, October 24), admission covered by the ticket price for the respective session. Over the course of the three sessions each Legend will play three best-of-three-set doubles matches in round robin, rotating partners, with the player who accumulates the most points to be crowned Legends Champion.

“Singapore is going to take the WTA Finals to a whole new level of spectacle and I’m so happy to be a part of it,” said Austin. “I have wonderful memories of competing in this showcase event during the exciting years at Madison Square Garden in New York. With a fascinating mix of established favorites and new faces, there is a real buzz around women’s tennis at the moment and I have no doubt the Singapore Sports Hub will provide an iconic new stage for our phenomenal athletes.”

· First doubles team to qualify for the 2014 WTA Finals in Singapore as competition expands to eight teams

                                                                                                    

ST. PETERSBURG, FL, USA – The Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) announced that the World No.1 doubles team, Sara Errani and Roberta Vinci, have become the first doubles team to qualify for this year’s BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global, to be staged at the Singapore Sports Hub from October 17-26, 2014.

The announcement comes the same week as the Italian doubles team returned to the co-No.1 position in the WTA Doubles Rankings after winning the title at Wimbledon. With the win, they became the fifth team in the Open Era to complete a Career Grand Slam adding to their previous Grand Slam doubles titles at Australian Open (2013, 2014),

· Kvitova jumps from No.16 to No.5 in Road to Singapore Leaderboard following Wimbledon title

· WTA Rising Stars Eugenie Bouchard and Simona Halep look to qualify for WTA Finals for first time

 ST. PETERSBURG, FL - With three Grand Slams and three of the four biggest WTA events already staged this year – the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, Sony Open in Miami, and Mutua Madrid Open – the player field for the year-end BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global is beginning to take shape. 

South Africa’s Kevin Anderson put up a brave show in his Wimbledon 2014 fourth round showdown against defending champion Andy Murray but he failed to claim the third set handing the Brit a passage to the quarter finals.

Murray, who is ranked number 3 on the ATP standings, has now won 17 straight Wimbledon matches thanks to his 6-4, 6-3, 7-6 (6) victory over number 20 Anderson. His victory means that he will now meet Grigor Dimitrov in the quarter finals.

ST. PETERSBURG, FL - The Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) announced today that Billie Jean King has been named as an Official Ambassador of the WTA Finals in Singapore.  One of the most respected and influential figures of the modern era, King has long been a champion of social change and equality, empowering women and young girls worldwide. As Official Ambassador of the WTA Finals, she will encourage physical and emotional health for young girls and women throughout the Asia-Pacific region through community youth programs, educational forums and various promotional activities in Singapore.  Having joined fellow greats Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova as a formal advocate of the WTA’s season finale, King will also be on hand to present the 2014 BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore Presented by SC Global singles champion with the Billie Jean King Trophy.

”The vision of every member of the Original 9 women professionals was that any girl, wherever she was born, could grow up to make a living from tennis if she was good enough,” said Billie Jean King. “Holding the WTA Finals in Asia-Pacific for the first time is fantastic proof that our dream is thriving. More than 40 years since the founding of the WTA and the first staging of the WTA Finals, I am thrilled to join Chris and Martina in helping take our showcase event to new heights. We know the fans in Singapore will be inspired by the skill and athleticism of the very best in women’s tennis.”

By: Editor

ST. PETERSBURG, FL, USA – The Women's Tennis Association (WTA) today announced a strategic partnership with Vixlet, the leading edge technology platform that allows fans to socially connect with players, tournaments and other passionate fans worldwide. The WTA will be the first international sports league on Vixlet's platform.

"Vixlet's innovative technology and state-of-the-art platform aligns perfectly with our strategic goal to continue to grow our international fan base," said WTA Chairman and CEO, Stacey Allaster. "The partnership with Vixlet will support stronger fan engagement and provide a natural extension to our existing digital properties to help share exciting stories through our social channels."

"The WTA is a global leader in sports entertainment and we are excited to develop this relationship, introducing Vixlet to both casual and avid tennis fans around world," said Vixlet CEO Lisa Gopala.

"The WTA will utilize leading-edge features of Vixlet built around its key assets including, players and tournaments, for a best in class fan engagement experience” said Vixlet Chairman Krishna Gopala.

Vixlet helps sports leagues and brands shape the relationship between players and fans, with the opportunity to monetize content, increase sponsorship and advertising opportunities, and launch global interactive marketing campaigns. The platform will be unveiled later this year through an integrated web and mobile app with support for multiple languages, including English and Chinese. 

At the end of 2013 the WTA defined a new vision, "To be the most inspirational and exciting sports entertainment experience on earth." The introduction of the Vixlet partnership will allow fans to access exclusive content; receive personalized event information; and utilize social features, promotional messaging and rewards, in an effort to unite, engage and showcase the international WTA community.

 

By: Editor

· OCBC Card Members to Receive Exclusive Access and Priority Booking as Ticket Sales Dates Announced 

SINGAPORE – The Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) today announced OCBC Bank as the Official Card Partner for the BNP Paribas WTA Championships Singapore, presented by SC Global, to be held  October 17-26, 2014, at the state-of-the-art S$1.3 billion Singapore Sports Hub.

Under the terms of the five-year agreement, OCBC Bank card members will enjoy a discount of seven percent when they purchase the tickets with their OCBC cards during the exclusive pre-sale period (April 17 to May 14) and early bird period (May 15 – June 1). Thereafter, they will enjoy a discount of five percent for General Admission tickets.

OCBC Bank’s Head of Group Lifestyle Financing, Desmond Tan, said: “As a leading regional financial institution, we are thrilled to be associated with the WTA Championships and be its official card partner.  Singapore, and the region to some extent, has been devoid of a world-class tennis event for a long time. With top-notch tennis action and engagement activities also taking place at the OCBC Arena – where the player practice sessions will be held – and OCBC Square – venue for the Fan Festival – it makes OCBC a natural card partner. We are particularly pleased that we can give access to a world-class tennis event to our customers through this sponsorship. Our customers will get priority booking of the tickets and exclusive sales deals. The list goes on. This sponsorship has added a new dimension to our card proposition which has been centered on the arts and entertainment.” 

“We are excited to have OCBC Bank on board as our card partner for the BNP Paribas WTA Championships Singapore, presented by SC Global. This brand new partnership with Singapore’s leading bank is another example of how we’re deepening our relationship with Singapore,” remarked WTA Chairman and CEO Stacey Allaster.

Andrew Georgiou, CEO of World Sport Group, the event promoter, said: “It’s heartening to see more local companies supporting this prestigious Championships – an event that promises something for all Singaporeans. OCBC Bank is one of Singapore’s leading brands and we are delighted that they have chosen WTA’s crown jewel as a platform to engage their customers and connect with a local, regional and global audience. OCBC Bank is highly regarded for its ongoing contribution and commitment to the local sporting landscape and we are thrilled that they will be playing a key role in the success of this event.” 

The 2014 WTA Championships will feature 11 match sessions across seven days of competition with four day sessions and seven evening sessions. The top eight singles players in the world will compete in a two-group, round robin competition (Sessions 1-8) with the top players in each group advancing to a single-elimination semifinal round (Session 9 and 10) and a championship match staged on Sunday, October 26 (Session 11).

The doubles competition will feature the top eight doubles teams in the world competing in single-elimination competition beginning with the quarterfinals (Sessions 3, 4, 6 and 8). The doubles semifinals will be staged on Saturday, October 25 (Sessions 9 and 10) with the doubles final staged prior to the singles final.

WTA CHAMPIONSHIPS SINGAPORE TICKET SESSIONS

SESSION    DAY                         TIME         MATCHES

Session 1     Monday, Oct 20       5:30pm      Legends (1), Singles RR (2)

Session 2     Tuesday, Oct 21      5:30pm      Rising Stars (1), Singles RR (2)

Session 3     Wednesday, Oct 22 1:30pm      Doubles QF (1), Singles RR (1)

Session 4     Wednesday, Oct 22 7:30pm      Singles RR (1), Doubles QF (1), Legends (1)

Session 5     Thursday, Oct 23     1:30pm      Singles RR (2)

Session 6     Thursday, Oct 23     7:30pm      Singles RR (1), Doubles QF (1), Legends (1)           

Session 7     Friday, Oct 24          1:30pm      Singles RR (2)

Session 8     Friday, Oct 24          7:30pm      Singles RR (1) & Doubles QF (1)

Session 9     Saturday, Oct 25     12pm         Doubles SF (1) & Singles SF (1)

Session 10   Saturday, Oct 25     6pm           Singles SF (1) & Doubles SF (1)

Session 11   Sunday, Oct 26        4pm           Doubles Final & Singles Final

Subject to change    RR = Round Robin

Ticket sales will commence on April 17, with an exclusive pre-sale period for OCBC card members at discounted rates for a limited time. Corporate hospitality packages will also be available, followed by an Early Bird Sales period in May and general consumer sales will open on June 2.

TIME LINE OF TICKET SALES

April 17 to May 14    Exclusive Pre-Sale to OCBC Card members (General Admission)

May 15 - June 1       Early Bird Sales (General Admission)

June 2                      General Public Ticket Sales Open (General Admission)

June 2                      Family Packages and Group Sales open

Oct 20 - 26               Daily Ground Pass on Sale                  

All tickets will be ticketed through Sports Hub Tix, the official ticketing partner of the 2014 WTA Championships Singapore.  For more information log on to www.sportshubtix.com.sg, visit the Singapore Indoor Stadium Box Office, call +65.6333.5000 or +65.3158.7888 or stop by a local SingPost outlet. Tickets prices start at SGD $16.90 plus booking fee. A limited number of Ground Passes will be available for purchase the week of the event from October 20-26, granting visitors access to the Fan Festival, Fan Zone and Player Practice sessions.

Women's tennis fans will have the opportunity to get closer to their favorite stars and WTA Championships via a season-long “Road To Singapore” journey. All the latest news will be available from the Championships website www.wtachampionships.com, Twitter (@WTACSingapore), Facebook (Facebook.com/WTAChampionshipsSG) and by becoming a “Road to Singapore Insider”. Through the dedicated platforms, fans will enjoy unparalleled access to their favorite players' season-long journey, including enhanced editorial coverage across all platforms. 

Singapore is the first city in Asia-Pacific in the 44-year history of the WTA Championships to host this prestigious event that promises a 10-day sports and entertainment experience featuring world-class competition, exhibitions and supporting activities for fans of women’s tennis in Singapore and around the world to enjoy. 

By Editor

After a year’s hiatus Africa’s first ever and only comprehensive sports magazine has returned with a bang. In this issue of African Sports Monthly we dedicate the front cover to the greatest African that ever lived in Nelson ‘Madiba’ Mandela for his incomparable contribution to Africa especially so in the world of sports. Nelson Mandela died on December 5th 2013 but his legacy in many facets of life, most particularly his recognition of the value of sports within society will forever remain with us in Africa. He stands alone as one of the very few African leaders who knew and saw the true value of sports as a vehicle of social mobilization to achieve a myriad of significant milestones one of which was in uniting South Africa which was at the crossroads to a brutal Civil War back in the mid 1990’s

By Editor

It is our tradition at African Sports Monthly to award the best Male and Female African Sports Personalities for their exploits on and off the field of play every year. .

African Sports Monthly Magazine initiated the two category Awards for male and female athletes in 2010 at the year of our founding and have continued that tradition ever since save for the 2012 Award which was cancelled due to an internal decision by our organization.

By: Editor

Brisbane, Australia —Jan. 3, 2014 —SAP today announced that it is continuing to collaborate with the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) in a global relationship to help provide tennis players, coaches, fans and the media with unprecedented insights through interactive analytics underpinned by the SAP HANA® platform. The announcement was made at Brisbane International 2014, being held December 29 – January 5 in Brisbane, Australia, where SAP is the official technology partner.

ST. PETERSBURG, FL, USA – The Women's Tennis Association today announced its plans for two key positions within the WTA's leadership with the hiring of Steve Tseng as the newly created Head of Global Sponsorship Sales, and the recruitment of a CEO for Asia-Pacific.

“I am excited for the strategic investment we are making in our senior management team. These two positions are vital for the continued growth and development of the WTA as we look to capitalize on the momentum we are seeing in women's tennis," said Stacey Allaster, WTA Chairman and CEO. "Steve brings an impeccable track record of generating new sponsorship opportunities across sports and entertainment. And along with the recruitment of our CEO of APAC, we are investing in dedicated resource in crucial business areas to drive future growth."