Showing posts with label Chairman and CEO Sony Ericsson WTA Tour. Show all posts
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(VIDEO/PHOTOS) Serena Williams And Heather Watson In The WTA's "Strong Is Beautiful Campaign"
Saturday, August 20, 2011
ROME, Italy - The WTA unveiled a new global ad campaign with the tagline "Strong is Beautiful", featuring 38 current and next generation stars of the sport. The campaign includes TV, print and digital ads along with social media applications and will be unveiled across 80 markets over the next two years.
Drawing upon athleticism and grace - a unique combination that has turned the stars of the WTA into the most recognizable and followed female athletes on the planet - the campaign places the personal stories, pressures and dreams of the players front of stage. The creative is designed to support the WTA's efforts to establish a deeper engagement with fans around the world and to promote both the sport's next generation of players along with current established names.
In addition to a WTA driven media campaign to promote women's tennis and the WTA Championships in Istanbul, the advertising is expected to be utilized by WTA events around the world, establishing a unified promotional message.
More WTA Ladies Photos and Videos Here
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Posted by Shelia at 4:35 AM Labels: Chairman and CEO Sony Ericsson WTA Tour, Heather Watson, Serena Williams, Strong Is Beautiful Campaign. Email this post
US OPEN SERIES W&S OPEN: Venus Makes Special Appearance On Sunday For High School Day
Monday, August 15, 2011
American Venus Williams signing autographs for even the smallest of fans.
Williams, who made the third round of Cincinnati in ’09, has won seven Grand Slam titles in her career and 43 Tour titles overall. A viral illness has forced her to withdraw from this year’s Western and Southern Open, but she came on-site Sunday to fulfill sponsor obligations.
Source: cincytennis.com
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Posted by Shelia at 5:43 AM Labels: ATP Tennis, Chairman and CEO Sony Ericsson WTA Tour, Cincinnati Ohio, Grandstand Tent, High School Day, Injury, Venus Williams, Western and Southern Financial Group Masters Email this post
US OPEN SERIES W&S OPEN: Venus Pulls Out Of Second Consecutive Tournament Due To A Viral Illness
CINCINNATI, Ohio (AFP) — Venus Williams has pulled out of WTA Tour's Western and Southern Open tournament, complaining of a viral illness, organizers said on Friday.
It is the second consecutive year the American has withdrawn from the event as she skipped the 2010 tournament with a sore knee.
The world No. 34 was forced to withdraw from this week's Rogers Cup in Toronto with the same illness.
"I regret not having the opportunity to compete in the Western and Southern Open this year," Williams said. "I am making progress towards recovering from a viral illness that began affecting me last week, and have plans to return to the practice court in the coming days. I am optimistic that I will be ready for the US Open at the end of this month."
The 31-year-old American has been limited to three tournaments this year because of injuries and illness. She retired at the Australian Open in January because of a right hip injury and contended with hip and abdominal ailments through May.
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It is the second consecutive year the American has withdrawn from the event as she skipped the 2010 tournament with a sore knee.
The world No. 34 was forced to withdraw from this week's Rogers Cup in Toronto with the same illness.
"I regret not having the opportunity to compete in the Western and Southern Open this year," Williams said. "I am making progress towards recovering from a viral illness that began affecting me last week, and have plans to return to the practice court in the coming days. I am optimistic that I will be ready for the US Open at the end of this month."
The 31-year-old American has been limited to three tournaments this year because of injuries and illness. She retired at the Australian Open in January because of a right hip injury and contended with hip and abdominal ailments through May.
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Posted by Shelia at 2:07 AM Labels: Chairman and CEO Sony Ericsson WTA Tour, Cincinnati, Ohio, Rogers Cup, Toronto, Venus Williams, Western and Southern Open Tournament Email this post
US OPEN SERIES ROGERS CUP: Venus Williams Withdraws Due To Viral Illness
Monday, August 8, 2011
Venus Williams at 1st Annual Hall Of Game Awards Hosted By The Cartoon Network in February 2011.
TORONTO — Venus Williams withdrew from the WTA Tour's Rogers Cup starting on Monday because of illness, according to organizers.
Williams said she wasn't feeling well and consulted a doctor on Sunday.
She was diagnosed with a viral illness and said she was "extremely disappointed" she won't be able to play in Toronto.
Qualifier Zhang Shuai of China steps into Williams' first-round match Tuesday against former world number one Ana Ivanovic of Serbia.
Lourdes Dominguez Lino got the extra berth in the draw.
The strong Rogers Cup field still includes Williams' sister, Serena, and world number one Caroline Wozniacki, No. 2 Kim Clijsters and No. 5 Maria Sharapova.
Serena Williams, who missed 11 months with a string of health problems, returned in June and won the WTA title in Stanford in late July.
Venus Williams, ranked 34th in the world, has had a disappointing season hampered by hip and abdominal injuries.
"I was really excited to play Toronto," Venus Williams said in a statement. "I came here ready to go and was practicing. I wasn't feeling very well and had to see the doctor today.
"I was diagnosed with a viral illness and unfortunately am unable to play. I am extremely disappointed. I'm very sorry to the fans and tournament."
The talent-laden Toronto tournament is a tuneup for the final Grand Slam of the year, the US Open that starts on August 29 in New York.
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Posted by Shelia at 5:01 AM Labels: AFP, Ana Ivanovic, Caroline Wozniacki, Chairman and CEO Sony Ericsson WTA Tour, Ilness, Olympus US Open Series, Serena Williams, Toronto, Venus Williams, Withdrawal, Zhang Shuai Email this post
SERENA ON COURT TWO ASSIGNMENT: "I Don't Make It A Big Issue... I Think At Some Point, Maybe I Should"
Saturday, June 25, 2011
WIMBLEDON, England (AP) — Serena Williams wonders why she and her older sister Venus have played once each on Court 2 at Wimbledon this year — instead of Centre Court or Court 1.
After winning her second-round match Thursday on Court 2, four-time Wimbledon champion Serena was asked about being put in that venue, where five-time champion Venus won Monday. Each also has played one match on Centre Court this week.
"They like to put us on Court 2 — me and Venus — for whatever reason," Serena said. "I haven't figured it out yet. Maybe one day we'll figure it out."
Told of Serena's comments, tournament spokesman Johnny Perkins said there was no intentional snub, noting that several factors go into scheduling decisions, including TV broadcasting considerations, where players stand in the draw, and what ticket-buyers want to see.
"I don't think it's anything deliberate, clearly," Perkins said. "It's a hugely complex jigsaw puzzle. Everyone probably looks at it from their own point of view, so she's obviously quite entitled to."
The Williams sisters have combined to win nine of the past 11 Wimbledon singles championships, including Serena's titles in 2009 and 2010.
"I don't really think about it. I don't make it a big issue," Serena said about the scheduling. "I think at some point, maybe I should."
Stacey Allaster, the head of the women's professional tennis tour, said in a statement: "Serena Williams is a four-time Wimbledon singles champion, the defending champion of Wimbledon and a 13-time Grand Slam singles champion. I share her disappointment."
WTA CEO Allaster continued: "Scheduling decisions at Wimbledon are made by the All England Club and only they would be able to explain the rationale behind their decision for the scheduling of Serena's match today."
Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray and Andy Roddick have had all of their matches scheduled for Centre Court or Court 1 so far this year.
"Yeah," Serena said, "they're never moved across."
The Court 2 she played in Thursday was built before the start of the 2009 tournament and holds about 4,063 spectators — 7,330 fewer than Court 1, and 10,916 fewer than Centre Court. For years before that, the name "Court 2" at the All England Club was assigned to a venue about half the size and a few minutes' walk away.
That old Court 2 was known as the "Graveyard of Champions" because of a series of surprise losses by top players — including Serena against Jill Craybas in the third round in 2005. That particular match actually originally was scheduled for Centre Court but was shifted when others there went long. Jimmy Connors, John McEnroe and Pete Sampras — in his final match at the All England Club — all lost on the old Court 2.
After watching his daughter defeat Simona Halep of Romania 3-6, 6-2, 6-1 at the new Court 2 on Thursday, Richard Williams downplayed the issue of court placement.
"I can't say where she should be," he said. "I don't do the scheduling." Read the rest of this post...........
Posted by Shelia at 11:48 PM Labels: All England Club, Angela Haynes Serena Williams, Chairman and CEO Sony Ericsson WTA Tour, Graveyard of Champions, Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, Stacey Allaster, Venus Williams Email this post
Congrats To Megan Moulton-Levy, Through Qualifying To Main Draw Of Wimbledon Doubles
Sunday, June 19, 2011
American Megan Moulton-Levy
Former William and Mary standout Megan Moulton-Levy, 26, and Lindsay Lee-Waters of Dunwoody, Ga., qualified for the Wimbledon women’s doubles draw in dramatic fashion.
They won two qualifying matches on grass courts in Roehampton, England, capped by a 6-7 (6-8), 6-4, 8-6 triumph Saturday against Russians Nina Bratchikova and Valeria Savinykh.
The match was supposed to be played Friday but was rained out.
Moulton-Levy, who has concentrated on doubles recently, is ranked 111th on the WTA Tour computer in doubles and has been as high as 103. In part because she has played so few singles tournaments lately, she’s ranked just 1,500 in singles.
One of her best W&M moments came in doubles, when she and Kat Zoricic were the 2007 NCAA tournament runners-up.
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Posted by Shelia at 4:19 PM Labels: 2011 Wimbledon Championships, Chairman and CEO Sony Ericsson WTA Tour, College of William and Mary, Kat Zoricic, Lindsay Lee-Waters, Megan Moulton-Levy, NCAA, Nina Bratchikova, Valeria Savinykh Email this post
Venus Not Able To Handle Hantuchova
Thursday, June 16, 2011
American Venus Williams agonizes as match against Slovakian Daniela Hantuchova slips away
EASTBOURNE, England - Venus Williams' WTA comeback came to an end on a windy Thursday afternoon in Eastbourne, as she was outrallied by Daniela Hantuchova in the quarterfinals of the AEGON International, 62 57 62.
Williams, who had missed four and a half months of action due to hip and abdominal injuries, came back strong, beating No.11-ranked Andrea Petkovic in her first match back and No.18-ranked Ana Ivanovic in her second. But the No.25-ranked Hantuchova was in too much of a groove, winning 12 of her last 15 matches. Just a day before, she upset French Open champion Li Na, too.
"Obviously this is a great win and it's nice to be able to continue my good form from Paris and Birmingham," Hantuchova commented after the match.
More impressive: Hantuchova beat Williams for the first time in 11 tries.
"I was not thinking about our other matches at all. I was just focusing on my game today," she added. "I had a good win yesterday and I wanted to build on that. But I still feel there is a lot of room to improve. I'm not where I want to be yet, but I feel like I'm on the right way, which is pretty exciting for me."
"The wind didn't make it very predictable, but I give her credit for hanging in there. On a day like today, you have to just hang in there," Williams said. "I think Daniela had a lot of motivation - we've been playing I don't know how many years, and I am sure she has wanted a win against me for a long, long time."
Williams showed some flashes of the fighting spirit that has taken her to seven Grand Slam titles and the No.1 ranking, one minute facing a point for a 62 52 deficit and the next minute tucking the second set away. But the final chapter of the match was all Hantuchova - from 2-all in the third, she won 16 of 21 points.
"It wasn't the best luck today, but I feel good about my preparation," Williams said. "More than anything I was able to get a lot of great competition. This has been ideal. I would have liked to win here, but there are positives here too."
Hantuchova commented on the return of both Williams sisters to the WTA: "It's nice to see them back. I think they're great for the game. I was really looking forward to the match today and really pleased I was able to make it through."
Photos by Getty Images
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Posted by Shelia at 6:13 PM Labels: . AEGON International, Andrea Petkovic, Chairman and CEO Sony Ericsson WTA Tour, Daniela Hantuchova, Eastbourne England, Li Na, Venus Williams Email this post
Bartoli Beats Venus To Earn Bank Of The West Classic Title
Monday, August 3, 2009
No matter how American Venus Williams begged and pleaded with herself on Sunday at the Bank of the West Classic in Stanford, Calfornia, she was not able to bring the brilliance of her game that she had just displayed on the previous two consecutive nights against Russians Maria Sharapova and Elena Dementieva.
This is the second meeting between Venus and Frenchwoman Marion Bartoli. In the Wimbledon 2007 final Venus showed Bartoli a thing or two and defeated her. Bartoli has just evened the score by defeating Venus 6-2, 5-7, 6-4 and earning the Bank of the West Classic title.
“I’m more experienced since that Wimbledon final," said Bartoli. "I’ve grown a lot and know what to do on big points. I can run a lot and I wanted to make Venus play one extra shot on every point.”
Venus, the former 2000 and 2002 titleholder of this event said, “Marion played really well,” Williams said. “I couldn’t find my game. I was fighting myself a lot and I couldn’t find the court. I’m not used to that.”
“Venus is one of the greatest champions ever,” Bartoli said. “That’s what I practice for, to play her. To beat her is even better.”
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Posted by Shelia at 10:23 PM Labels: Bank of the West Classic, Chairman and CEO Sony Ericsson WTA Tour, France, Marion Bartoli, Venus Williams Email this post
Stacey Allaster Succeeds Larry Scott as Chairperson And CEO Of Sony Ericsson WTA Tour
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Stacey Allaster, recently appointed as Chairman and CEO of Sony Ericsson WTA Tour
(Photo by Getty Images)
(Photo by Getty Images)
ST. PETERSBURG, FL, USA - The Sony Ericsson WTA Tour announced on Monday the appointment of Stacey Allaster, the Tour's President since 2006, as the new Chairman and CEO of the world's leading global sport for women. Allaster will begin her new role immediately and will continue to be based at the Tour's US headquarters in St. Petersburg, Florida. The naming of Allaster culminates an international search undertaken by the Tour's Board of Directors and led by leading global executive recruitment firm Korn/Ferry International.
Commenting on her appointment as Chairman and CEO, Stacey Allaster said: "I am honored to lead the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour, which since its founding by Billie Jean King 36 years ago has continued to break barriers and grow into a premier global sporting league. The Tour and our sport have enjoyed unprecedented success over the past years, and we are poised for even greater heights in the years to come. Our primary and enduring focus will be our fans, our players and our tournaments, and continuing to build a premium sport and entertainment brand."
"Women's tennis and the Tour have never been stronger as a business, and Stacey has been at the center of this business success over the past years," said seven-time Grand Slam champion and Player Council member Venus Williams. "Stacey has helped to lead the development of a stronger Tour product through the passage of a healthier and streamlined circuit structure. I believe that Stacey will be a great leader for the Tour, understands how players can help drive our business, and has all the tools to take our sport to even greater heights."
"Stacey Allaster is one of the most talented and respected leaders in our sport," said Steve Simon, Tournament Board Representative and Tournament Director of the BNP Paribas Open women's event. "Stacey brings to the role a track record of success in the areas of sales, marketing and television, possesses a deep understanding as to the needs of tennis fans, and has the respect of our players, tournaments and entire tennis industry. Stacey's appointment is great news for both the organization and the sport."
Allaster, 46, succeeds Larry Scott, who held the position for six years prior to becoming the Commissioner of NCAA's PAC-10 Conference. Recognized as one of the most internationally successful female sports executives, Allaster came to the Tour on January 1, 2006 in the newly-created role of President, responsible for the Tour's operations, business development, television, new media and tournament and player relations. Since joining the Tour, Allaster has played an integral role in a number of groundbreaking Tour achievements and is credited with helping to take the business of women's professional tennis to unprecedented heights, including:
(i) passage of the Tour's landmark Roadmap reform plan, which has resulted in a 40% increase in prize money, $750 million of new stadium investment and a healthier calendar better able to ensure that fans see top players competing more often on the Tour's biggest stages;
(ii) implementation of more fan friendly innovations to the sport than in its prior history, including working with leaders of other tennis governing bodies to bring electronic line calling to the sport, as well as on-court coaching, pre-match player interviews, interviews with coaches during matches and a new doubles scoring format;
(iii) expansion of the Tour's global television footprint and launch of groundbreaking digital initiatives, including TennisTV.com in partnership with the ATP World Tour, bringing live streaming of matches from the world's top women's and men's Tour events to a global online audience, along with a brand new fan friendly official Tour website;
(iv) playing a lead role in the prior renewal of the Tour's biggest three sponsorship deals - Sony Ericsson, Whirlpool and Dubai Duty Free;
(v) achievement of the Tour's longstanding quest to grant equal prize money for women tennis players at Wimbledon and Roland Garros, along with the year-end Sony Ericsson Championships and five of the biggest events on the Tour; and
(vi) reestablishment of the year-end Sony Ericsson Championships as a premier season ending event.
Prior to joining the Tour, Allaster served as Vice President and Tournament Director at Tennis Canada, where she is credited with leading a professional tennis resurgence during her tenure. She was instrumental in generating record revenues and attendance at the Canadian Open (currently known as the Rogers Cup), and turning each of the tournaments in Montréal and Toronto into premier global sporting properties. Allaster played an instrumental role in the building and fundraising for Toronto's world-class Rexall Tennis Centre, and led a team that generated over $165 million in sponsorship and stadium revenues for the development of the sport.
A consummate tennis professional, Allaster has held every position in the sport of tennis, from a junior to a collegiate player, to a Tournament Director of prestigious Masters Series and Premier Events, to Tour President.
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Posted by Shelia at 8:20 PM Labels: Billie Jean King, Chairman and CEO Sony Ericsson WTA Tour, Larry Scott, Stacey Allaster, Steve Simon, Venus Williams Email this post
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