The Sony Ericsson WTA Tour's inaugural Road to Bali is in full swing, with eight International tournaments in the books in the race to qualify for the Commonwealth Bank Tournament of Champions.
Vera Zvonareva showed why she was the top seed in Pattaya City the week of February 9, as she didn't drop a set en route to the title. The following week, Victoria Azarenka become the first player to win multiple International events, taking the title in Memphis about a month after winning her first career Tour singles title in Brisbane to start the season. Azarenka, who had no Tour singles titles to her credit before 2009, is the frontrunner in the Road to Bali.
Also the week of February 16, María José Martínez Sánchez won her first career Tour singles title as the No.7 seed in Bogotá. The next week, Venus Williams was extended to three sets in three of her matches, but captured Acapulco for her 41st career Tour singles title, but just her eighth on clay. Finally, the week of March 2, Marion Bartoli won the inaugural Monterrey Open.
About the Commonwealth Bank Tournament of Champions
The Commonwealth Bank Tournament of Champions is set to debut at the Bali International Convention Centre (adjoining the Westin Resort) from November 4-8 in 2009. Featuring top Sony Ericsson WTA Tour players and next-generation champions competing in an innovative, 12-woman round robin singles format (four groups of three players), it will offer both $600,000 in prize money and an opportunity to earn a $1-million bonus.
