Tennis: WTA launches "Road to Singapore" campaign to year-end championships

Serena Williams kicks off the “Road to Singapore” with the WTA Championships Billie Jean King Trophy at the Brisbane International presented by Suncorp. The Women's Tennis Association (WTA) launched the "Road to Singapore" on Tuesd
Serena Williams kicks off the “Road to Singapore” with the WTA Championships Billie Jean King Trophy at the Brisbane International presented by Suncorp. The Women's Tennis Association (WTA) launched the "Road to Singapore" on Tuesday, a season-long campaign that will see the tour's best players work their way to the year-end WTA Championships in Singapore next October. -- PHOTO: GETTY IMAGES

The Women's Tennis Association (WTA) launched the "Road to Singapore" on Tuesday, a season-long campaign that will see the tour's best players work their way to the year-end WTA Championships in Singapore next October.

Singapore is taking over the next five editions of the prestigious event, the first time in the annual tournament's 44-year history that a city in Asia-Pacific is doing so.

World No. 1 and reigning champion Serena Williams, who is playing her first tournament of the season at the Brisbane International, said: "I am starting my 2014 season today, but I've already made qualifying for the WTA Championships one of my biggest goals. I am really exciting about it being held in Singapore for the first time as it's an amazing city that I'd like to visit. Women's tennis is definitely growing and becoming more and more global each year."

To be staged at the new Singapore Sports Hub, the event will offer record prize-money purse of US$6.5 million (S$8.2 million). The festival-like event will include sideshows such as exhibition matches between rising stars and former legends, daily fan activities and music events.

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