News Release
Transcription
News Release
News Release Sunday, October 12, 2014 ALLA KUDRYAVTSEVA AND ANASTASIA RODIONOVA QUALIFY FOR BNP PARIBAS WTA FINALS SINGAPORE PRESENTED BY SC GLOBAL Kudryavtseva/Rodionova become final doubles team to qualify for WTA Finals Top 8 doubles teams in the world will compete for WTA Finals Martina Navratilova Doubles Trophy ST. PETERSBURG, FL, USA – The Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) announced today that the doubles team of Alla Kudryavtseva and Anastasia Rodionova has officially qualified for the BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global, to be held at the Singapore Sports Hub from October 17-26, 2014. Kudryavtseva, of Russia, and Rodionova, of Australia, have won three titles this season, hoisting the trophy at the Brisbane International, Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships and the Tianjin Open. The duo also produced a runner-up effort at the PTT Pattaya Open, semifinal runs at the Family Circle Cup (Charleston), the Bank of the West Classic (Stanford) and Western & Southern Open (Cincinnati) and quarterfinal finishes five times, including at Wimbledon. Kudryavtseva and Rodionova, who needed to win the Tianjin Open title in order to secure a spot in Singapore, defeated Sorana Cirstea and Andrea Klepac in the final, 6-7(6) 6-2 10-8. The No.1 seeds at the event, Martina Hingis and Flavia Pennetta, were the only other team in the running for the eighth and last spot in the doubles field at the WTA Finals in Singapore; they lost in the quarterfinals of the tournament. First teaming up in 2009, Kudryavtseva and Rodionova have played 39 tournaments together, winning five titles as a team. Both players will be making their debut at the WTA Finals Singapore. "First of all we're very happy to win this title," Rodionova said. "We weren't thinking about bigger picture this week. First we were playing this tournament, and our goal this week was to win this tournament. We're very happy how we played and that we could win our third WTA doubles title of the year. But getting into Singapore is great. It wasn't our last chance - we had another chance next week - but to do it here is definitely the cherry on top of the cake. We're really looking forward to it." "Alla and Anastasia have worked hard all season to qualify for the WTA Finals,” said WTA Chairman and CEO, Stacey Allaster. “This year’s doubles field features the best eight doubles teams in the world, each with a unique playing style that is sure to create excitement for the fans in Singapore and around the world.” Kudryavtseva and Rodionova will join doubles teams of Sara Errani and Roberta Vinci, Peng Shuai and Hsieh Su-Wei, Ekaterina Makarova and Elena Vesnina, Cara Black and Sania Mirza, Raquel Kops-Jones and Abigail Spears, Kveta Peschke and Katarina Srebotnik and Garbiñe Muguruza and Carla Suarez Navarro. The Top 8 doubles teams in the world will compete in a single-elimination draw at the WTA Finals, with the winner taking home the WTA Finals Martina Navratilova Doubles Trophy. The official doubles draw ceremony will be held on Tuesday, October 21, at 11 a.m. Tickets for the general public start at S$16.90 and can be purchased through Sports Hub Tix wtafinals.sportshubtix.sg, the official ticketing partner of the 2014 BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global. For more information visit the WTA Finals website www.WTAFinals.com and follow on Twitter (@WTAFinalsSG) and Facebook (facebook.com/WTAFinalsSG). MEDIA CONTACT: Heather Bowler, WTA, +44. 78.8596.6355, hbowler@wtatennis.com Darren Lai, Fast Track+ 65 8222 7602, darren.lai@fasttrackagency.com About WTA: The WTA is the global leader in women’s professional sport with more than 2,500 players representing 92 nations competing for a record $118 million in prize money at the WTA’s 54 events and four Grand Slams in 33 countries. Close to 5.4 million people attended women’s tennis events in 2013 with millions more watching on television and digital channels around the world. The 2014 WTA competitive season concludes with the BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global October 17-26, 2014 and the Garanti Koza Tournament of Champions in Sofia, Bulgaria, October 28-November 2, 2014. Further information on the WTA can be found at www.wtatennis.com; facebook.com/WTA and twitter.com/WTA. About World Sport Group: World Sport Group (WSG) is Asia’s largest sports marketing, media and event management company. The Group is involved in delivering almost 600 sporting events annually and more than 5,000 hours of sport programming across more than 30 countries in the region. WSG is the exclusive marketing, media and event partner to the region’s leading sporting bodies, major events, sporting venues, athletes, sponsors and broadcasters. WSG’s parent company, Lagardère, is a world-class diversified media group (Book and e-Publishing; Travel Retail and Distribution; Press, Audiovisual, Digital and Advertising Sales Brokerage; Sports and Entertainment). Lagardère shares are listed on Euronext Paris. www.wsgworld.com