WTA partners join hands with fans to commemorate the 2018 WTA Finals

SINGAPORE - Tennis fever has come to town as the fifth and final BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global starts today with the official singles draw ceremony this evening.

WTA’s global partners, Porsche and SAP, have joined hands to offer a platform that gives fans near and far a chance to celebrate the legacy of the WTA Finals in Singapore. Fans are encouraged to share their favorite photo from WTA Finals on Twitter using the hashtag #WTAFinalsLegacy. Photos will appear in a photo mosaic which will feature the most memorable moments from the past five years.

“Congratulations to Singapore for being a tremendous host of the WTA Finals over the last five years. It has been a great pleasure to see the Porsche Race to Singapore and each player’s journey lead to this magnificent city. We hope fans around the world will join us in sharing their cherished memories and celebrating Singapore,” said Oliver Eidam, Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG, Director, Brand Partnerships and Sponsoring.

The mosaic activation will be featured at Courtside by the Bay, the 10-day downtown festival from 19 – 28 October, held at the Event Plaza along the promenade facing Marina Bay Sands, and also at the official Fan Village at the Singapore Sports Hub where the top sight singles players and doubles teams will take to the court from Sunday, 21 October.

Singapore became the first city in Asia Pacific in 2014 to host the prestigious event which has since seen stars including Maria Sharapova, Simona Halep, Caroline Wozniacki, Martina Hingis, Serena Williams and Venus Williams take the court. WTA legends Billie Jean King, Martina Navratilova, Li Na and Chris Evert have also played an integral role in engaging with the fans in Singapore since 2014.

“The WTA Finals has not only left a legacy in Singapore as the host city but has encouraged the growth of tennis in Asia Pacific with initiatives like the WTA Future Stars. These community engagement programs will continue to inspire generations, and SAP is proud to be part of that lasting legacy,” said Claus Andresen, President and Managing Director SAP South East Asia.

The WTA Future Stars program, in partnership with Sport Singapore and the Singapore Tennis Association, was launched in 2014 to showcase the best of Asia Pacific’s next generation. It began with just 12 countries and 24 players in the first year, and by the end of 2018, Singapore will have welcomed more than 196 participants from 21 countries to compete against each other alongside activities to breed friendship and encourage sportsmanship.

WTA Future Stars also features a grassroots development initiative to introduce the sport to less privileged communities throughout Asia Pacific. WTA Future Stars Clinics have been conducted in China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand and the outreach continues to grow.

“WTA is grateful to our partners like Porsche and SAP who have played such a significant role in contributing to the legacy of the WTA Finals in Singapore.  We are thrilled to be celebrating our time in Singapore with them through this photo mosaic which I am sure will feature some incredible moments from the past four years.” commented Melissa Pine, WTA Finals Tournament Director and VP of Asia Pacific. “This is a truly meaningful way to show our gratitude to everyone in Singapore for being such a great host city, and all they have done to grow the sport throughout the region.”

Entrance to the WTA Future Stars matches is free for fans to cheer on the next generation.  The WTA Future Stars Final will be played on Sunday 21 October on Center Court at the Singapore Indoor Stadium from 11:00am; the semi-finalists will play tomorrow at OCBC Arena from 11:30am.

Tickets to the BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global are on sale at www.WTAFinals.com