The final tournament of the 2009 Sony Ericsson WTA Tour tennis season begins on Wednesday in Bali.
Making its debut in Indonesia from November 4-8, the Commonwealth Bank Tournament of Champions features established and next generation stars competing in an innovative 12-woman round robin singles format.
The top 10 highest-ranked players who have won an International tournament during the 2009 season on the Tour and who did not compete at the Sony Ericsson Championships – Doha 2009 are eligible for the event.
Marion Bartoli, Samantha Stosur, Yanina Wickmayer, Anabel Medina Garrigues, Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez, Shahar Peer, Melinda Czink, Agnes Szavay, Aravane Rezai and Magdalena Rybarikova have qualified, while Kimiko Date Krumm and Sabine Lisicki have accepted invitations as tournament wildcards to round out the playing field at the inaugural event.
The 12 players are split into four groups of three, with each of the top four seeds placed into Group A, B, C and D in order of ranking. The next four players based on ranking were then drawn and placed in each group, followed by the final four.
The highest ranked winner of any of the Groups will be placed at the top of the semi-final draw, with the second highest ranked placed at the bottom. The remaining two semi-finalists will be drawn to play in the top or bottom half. Those matches take place on November 5th, with the final on the 6th.
Group A:
Marion Bartoli
Shahar Peer
Magdalena Rybarikova
Group B:
Samantha Stosur
Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez
Agnes Szavay
Group C:
Yanina Wickmayer
Anabel Medina Garrigues
Kimiko Date Krumm
Group D:
Sanine Lisicki
Melinda Czink
Aravane Rezai
Vera Dushevina is standing by as the alternate, in case of injury or sickness.
The Commonwealth Bank Tournament of Champions represents the championships for the International tournaments, bringing a season-long link and race tying together the International events.
It’s so cool that Magdaléna Rybáriková is in these season-ending championships!