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| WTA picks Singapore to host its tennis Championships from 2014 | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The Women's Tennis Association (WTA) has named Singapore as the host for its annual end-of-season tour championships for five years from 2014. | |
| The championship, held in the Turkish city of Istanbul between 2011 and 2013, is considered the most prestigious event after the four Grand Slams. | The championship, held in the Turkish city of Istanbul between 2011 and 2013, is considered the most prestigious event after the four Grand Slams. |
| The other candidates were Monterrey, in Mexico, and China's Tianjin. | The other candidates were Monterrey, in Mexico, and China's Tianjin. |
| The top eight singles players and top eight doubles teams will compete for record prize money of $6.5m (£4.2m). | The top eight singles players and top eight doubles teams will compete for record prize money of $6.5m (£4.2m). |
| The Singapore move is part of the WTA's stated goal of expanding women's tennis in the Asia-Pacific region. | The Singapore move is part of the WTA's stated goal of expanding women's tennis in the Asia-Pacific region. |
| "This is the largest and most significant WTA Championships partnership in our history. It's a record-breaker," said WTA chief executive Stacey Allaster. | "This is the largest and most significant WTA Championships partnership in our history. It's a record-breaker," said WTA chief executive Stacey Allaster. |
| The current champion is Serena Williams, who beat Maria Sharapova in the 2012 final. | The current champion is Serena Williams, who beat Maria Sharapova in the 2012 final. |
| The event was first staged in 1972 and has been hosted in cities including Los Angeles, New York City, Munich, Madrid, Doha and currently Istanbul. | |
| 'Sports industry' | 'Sports industry' |
| The move to Singapore follows other big name sports events being held there, including the Formula One Grand Prix, golf's HSBC Women's Champions and the 2010 Youth Olympic Games. | The move to Singapore follows other big name sports events being held there, including the Formula One Grand Prix, golf's HSBC Women's Champions and the 2010 Youth Olympic Games. |
| The state-of-the-art $1bn Singapore Sports Hub, located in the centre of the city, will host the championships at the 7500-seat, Singapore Indoor Stadium. | The state-of-the-art $1bn Singapore Sports Hub, located in the centre of the city, will host the championships at the 7500-seat, Singapore Indoor Stadium. |
| The WTA and organisers say they are looking to change the event from a tennis championships into a wider entertainment programme, with new features such as WTA Future Stars, WTA legends exhibition matches, concerts, coaching, trade symposiums, a Women in Business Leadership Conference, and daily fan festivals open to the public. | The WTA and organisers say they are looking to change the event from a tennis championships into a wider entertainment programme, with new features such as WTA Future Stars, WTA legends exhibition matches, concerts, coaching, trade symposiums, a Women in Business Leadership Conference, and daily fan festivals open to the public. |
| There will also be VIP events up for grabs for fans. | There will also be VIP events up for grabs for fans. |
| "This is an excellent opportunity for the sports industry to showcase its capabilities in hosting world class events," said Mr Lim Teck Yin, chief executive of the Singapore Sports Council. | "This is an excellent opportunity for the sports industry to showcase its capabilities in hosting world class events," said Mr Lim Teck Yin, chief executive of the Singapore Sports Council. |