Tianjin Open organizers today announced that three WTA Top 20 players and the return of a superstar will headline this year’s tournament to be held at the Tianjin Tuanbo International Tennis Center between 12-18 October.
The tournament also launched its promotional videos, tournament poster and ticket sales for the second edition of the event during a ceremony held at the Crowne Plaza Tianjin Meijiangnan and attended by government representatives, VIP officials, sponsors and media.
Poland’s Agnieszka Radwanska, the WTA’s most popular player for the past four years, Czech Karolina Pliskova, a rising WTA Star who moved into the Top 10 of the WTA Rankings this week, and 2014 Tianjin Open Runner-Up Belinda Bencic, also a new entrant to the WTA Top 20, will join with China’s Zheng Saisai to headline the singles draw.
The 2015 Tianjin Open doubles draw will be highlighted by the return to Tianjin of global superstar and reigning Wimbledon Doubles and Mixed Doubles Champion, Martina Hingis.
Today’s announcement of the marquee players is reward for the Tianjin Open’s continued focus on growth. The tournament will increase prize money to USD 500,000 and implement Hawk-Eye in just its second year.
“Our decision to make considerable improvements to the WTA Tianjin Open is now being rewarded by the great players we have announced to play this year. Tennis fans in Tianjin will now be able to see three of the current WTA Top 20 players in Agnieszka Radwanska, Karolina Pliskova and Belinda Bencic, as well as the brilliance of superstar Martina Hingis. With such a strong line up of stars now is the time for fans to get their tickets before they are all sold out,” said Tournament Director Stephen Duckitt.
Radwanska, who confirmed her participation in June said, “Tianjin Open has invested significantly to make some great improvements including the addition of Hawk-Eye, which will make this year’s tournament more attractive and competitive.”
This year, Pliskova has won the title in Prague and reached the final of four other events, to push herself into the Top 10 for the first time.
“I am looking forward to my first trip to Tianjin this October. I have heard that it is a beautiful city with a strong tennis history.
I like that Tianjin Open will also have Hawk-Eye for the first time. It is one of the few WTA International level tournaments to do this, which shows the tournament is growing strongly.
The players and the fans will really enjoy it and I look forward to showing them my best later this year,” said Pliskova, the current World No. 8.
Switzerland’s Belinda Bencic will be hoping she can go one better than last year as she returns to Tianjin for the second consecutive year.
“Tianjin holds great memories for me, as it was where I reached my first WTA final. I was really impressed with the way the tournament made the players feel really welcome and experience some of the Chinese culture.
“I am looking forward to coming back and playing in front of all the fans again and this year hopefully go one better and win the Tianjin Open,” enthused the Swiss rising star.
Martina Hingis has set the doubles world alight this season, with her partner Sania Mirza, claiming titles in Indian Wells, Miami, Charleston and Wimbledon as well as reaching the finals of Rome, and qualifying for the WTA Finals in Singapore.
“I really enjoyed playing in the Tianjin Open last year. It was the first year of the tournament and the organization and experience was one of the best on the WTA.
At Wimbledon I read some Tianjin Open material and saw that they are continuing to grow the tournament this year, so I am excited to be returning to Tianjin Open to see all the changes and playing in front of all the fans again,” added Hingis.
The ceremony also saw the commencement of ticket sales through the Tianjin Open’s official ticketing partner WePiao, with fans able to take advantage of an early bird discount period with tickets available at 20%.
Other initiatives introduced by the tournament for 2015 include student tickets, family packages, VIP Hospitality packages and special shuttle buses between downtown Tianjin, Jinghai and the Tianjin Tuanbo International Tennis Center.
Tickets can be purchased through a variety of platforms including the Tianjin Open official website: www.tianjinopen.com, or through the various WePiao platforms:
• Website: show.wepiao.com.
• “Shows and Tournaments” column in the “Movie Tickets” section at WeChat Wallet on WeChat,
• Clicking “Show Tickets” column in the “Movies and Shows” section at QQ Wallet on Mobile QQ.
• Via the WePiao ticketing hotline: 4001 100 100
Offline ticket sales will be available through TJPIAO.COM
The 2015 is shaping up to be an exciting tournament as organizers continue build its reputation as one of the best destinations on the WTA. Fans are encouraged to purchase tickets early to secure a ticket to one of Tianjin’s biggest sporting events and see some of the best tennis players competing in Tianjin.
