Li Na and Marion Bartoli to play the maiden edition of Shenzhen Gemdale Open in 2013 – Tennis News
A new tournament has been added in the first week of the Women Tennis Association schedule and it was announced at the start of this week as the official entry to the elite list of events by the authorities of Women Tennis Association.
It will be known as the Shenzhen Gemdale Open and will be hosted in the city of China, Shenzhen. It is an International event and features prize money of $500,000. The draw will contain 32 players and a doubles draw as well featuring 16 separate teams. The
outdoor hard courts of Shenzhen has the capacity to accommodate 4000 spectators in the arena and consist of 32 courts (outdoor and indoor inclusive).
There was no doubt about the entry of the seventh ranked Chinese star, Li Na, in the tournament as it is being contested at her home soil. However, the 11th ranked Frenchwoman, Marion Bartoli, has also signed up to participate
in the maiden edition of the tournament which will be a memorable moment for everyone especially the tournament officials who have worked extremely hard to make sure that they receive the rights to host an elite tournament.
Li will be the top seeded contestant in the tournament, followed by the number one Frenchwoman. In a video message released to the press reporters, the 30-year-old Chinese stated, “Ni Hao Shenzhen. I would like to congratulate
Shenzhen on the confirmation of the Shenzhen Gemdale Open, and I am excited to confirm that I will be playing the tournament.” Bartoli also commented about the new entry to the Women Tennis Association schedule. She stated, “Bonjour! I am excited to be playing
the first Shenzhen Gemdale Open. I congratulate Shenzhen for securing this exciting new tournament in China.”
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Women Tennis Association, Stacey Allaster commented, “We are very excited to be adding the Shenzhen Gemdale Open to the WTA's calendar in 2013. China and the Asia-Pacific region are key strategic
growth markets for the WTA, and Shenzhen will present a fantastic opportunity to continue showcasing women's tennis to the fans of China.”
Other players that will be a part of the field are Jelena Jankovic, Hsieh Su-Wei, Klara Zakopalova, Peng Shuai, and Laura Robson.
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