SINGAPORE – As Singapore celebrates the fifth and final edition of the BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global ("WTA Finals"), a symbolic art piece commemorating the tournament and the achievements of women in sports and entertainment was unveiled at the Singapore Sports Hub today. 

Commissioned by the Singapore Sports Hub, Sport Singapore and Women’s Tennis Association (WTA), the artwork was created by internationally-acclaimed Singapore artist, Baet Yeok Kuan. Entitled ‘Dream’, the sculpture seeks to celebrate passion and those who dare to dream. Featuring a young girl holding a tennis racquet as she leaps in pursuit of her passion, ‘Dream’ also aims to inspire the next generation to dream big and fulfil their ambitions. 

Encapsulating the spirit of ‘Dream’, inscribed is a quote from Billie Jean King, founder of the WTA and 39-time Grand Slam champion: “My vision is for every young girl to be able to follow her dreams”. King’s handprints will also be cast in stone alongside the art piece. 

The dignitaries gathered with young people

Oon Jin Teik, CEO of Singapore Sports Hub, said, “’Dream’ is a symbolic representation of the admirable contributions of women, in shaping Singapore’s unique sporting and entertainment landscape, and we hope that it inspires and encourages the next generation to realise their ambitions. As our wonderful journey as hosts of the WTA Finals draws to a close, we are pleased to commemorate the WTA’s lasting legacy in Singapore through this sculpture. The tournament has attracted Singaporeans and visitors from all over the world to our top-in-class venue and we look forward to continue hosting global events of such calibre in order to create extraordinary experiences and memories for Singaporeans and vistors of all ages.”

Speaking about her experience in Singapore, King commented, “My dream has always been to encourage every person to believe in and fulfil their own dreams. Dreams come true if you believe in yourself and are willing to put in the effort. When I came to Singapore for the first edition of the WTA Finals in 2014, I was ecstatic to see that our dream for the WTA was coming to fruition, that we were able to reach out to a new community and inspire more people in the Asia-Pacific region. With this symbolic art piece, I hope that Singapore remembers her invaluable contribution to the legacy of the WTA Finals here and continues to use this as an inspiration for future generations.”

The WTA Finals leaves a lasting legacy in Singapore which will continue to inspire generations to come. It has helped to build a sustainable platform that has kickstarted the growth of tennis not just in Singapore, but throughout Asia-Pacific. The sculpture thus celebrates the development and growth of tennis programmes in Singapore such as the Love Singapore SportCares initiative, the ActiveSG Tennis Academy, as well as the island-wide Singapore Tennis Festival by ActiveSG, which are held during the week of the tournament and supported by the WTA and Sport Singapore.

Lim Teck Yin, CEO of Sport Singapore, said, “The WTA Finals has brought tennis closer to Singaporeans and got many interested to play. We are proud to have hosted the Finals as the first major sporting event at the Singapore Sports Hub when it first opened. Over the years, the month of October has become synonymous with tennis through the parallel Singapore Tennis Festival that was staged alongside the Finals’ fringe events. The legacy from the WTA Finals will be felt through the development of new infrastructure, events and programmes to inspire more people to play tennis recreationally and competitively.”

Steve Simon, WTA CEO and Chairman said, “The WTA is grateful for all the support that Singapore has shown for the WTA Finals, and for the incredible efforts in promoting our sport. Our partners in Singapore have delivered an event at the highest level and at the same time, have created an environment that will allow for the sport to continue to grow in Singapore. Through this symbolic art piece, and on behalf of the WTA, I would like to thank Singapore for being a wonderful host city and for helping the WTA showcase the sport throughout Asia-Pacific.”

Baet’s stunning artwork, which commemorates Singapore’s successful hosting of the tournament, will be displayed at the north entrance of the iconic Singapore Indoor Stadium, official home of the WTA Finals. It will also be incorporated into the Singapore Sports Hub’s wider plans to celebrate Singapore’s rich sports and arts heritage.