Fifteen different players have won the 16 events that have been completed so far in the quest to qualify for the Commonwealth Bank Tournament of Champions, including the only two grass court events on the schedule of 30 International tournaments, both of which were played this month.
Twenty-year-old Slovakian Magdalena Rybarikova won her first Sony Ericsson WTA Tour singles title at the AEGON Classic in Birmingham, defeating No.4 seed Li Na in straight sets in the final on June 14. The 13th seed also took out No.1 seed Zheng Jie in the round of 16 en route to the title.
The following week, unseeded Tamarine Tanasugarn defended her Ordina Open championship for her third career Tour singles title. The 32-year-old Thai recorded a quarterfinal victory over No.3 seed Flavia Pennetta, a semifinal win over the No.1 player in the world and No.1 seed - Dinara Safina - and a defeat of a player 13 years younger than she in the final - Yanina Wickmayer - who won the Estoril Open last month.
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.
