Zvonareva and Stosur Qualify TEB BNP Paribas WTA Championships-Instabul

Written by: Staff on 9th October 2011

Zvonareva and Stosur Qualify TEB BNP Paribas WTA Championships-Instabul

Samantha Stosur of Australia returns the ball against and Maria Kirilenko of Russia during their match in the Toray Pan Pacific Open Tennis tournament in Tokyo Japan, 27 September, 2011. EPA/TOMOYUKI KAYA |

ZVONAREVA AND STOSUR QUALIFY FOR TEB BNP PARIBAS WTA CHAMPIONSHIPS-ISTANBUL

· Former Championships runner-up Zvonareva qualifies for fifth time

· US Open Champion Stosur makes consecutive return

· A. Radwanska, Petkovic and Bartoli contesting remaining Championships singles spot

Today, Russia’s Vera Zvonareva and Australia’s Sam Stosur became the sixth and seventh players to qualify for the prestigious TEB BNP Paribas WTA Championships, which will be hosted at the state of the art Sinan Erdem Arena in Istanbul, Turkey from October 25-30, 2011. Zvonareva and Stosur join World No.1 Caroline Wozniacki, three-time Grand Slam champion Maria Sharapova, Wimbledon Champion Petra Kvitova, World No.4 Victoria Azarenka, Roland Garros Champion Li Na, and the doubles teams of Katarina Srebotnik/Kveta Peschke and Liezel Huber/Lisa Raymond, all of whom already secured their trip to Istanbul.

Poland’s Agnieszka Radwanska, Germany’s Andrea Petkovic, and France’s Marion Bartoli are contesting the remaining spot in the Championships singles draw during the final two weeks of the regular season. All three players are, however, guaranteed to make the trip to Istanbul, two of three as alternates.

The WTA’s year-end finale, to be held in Istanbul through 2013, will feature the world’s top eight singles players and top four doubles teams competing for the coveted title and a share of the $5 million in prize money. The WTA and partner Turkish Tennis Federation look to deliver the best season finale in the history of women’s tennis to fans all over the world.

“Congratulations to Vera and Sam on qualifying for the TEB BNP Paribas WTA Championships. Vera is one of the WTA’s most consistent players earning her fifth trip to the Championships and Sam’s incredible feat of winning the US Open last month is one of the highlights of the season,” said Stacey Allaster, Chairman and CEO of the WTA. “I look forward to seeing incredible performances by both players and the rest of the WTA’s best in Istanbul in a few weeks.”

Vera Zvonareva:

“It’s an amazing feeling to qualify for the Championships yet again. Women’s tennis is extremely competitive and knowing that I made it to Championships means that I’ve had a good season and played consistently throughout the year. It’s an honor to make it to Istanbul,” said Zvonareva.

Zvonareva has won two titles in 2011 – the Qatar Ladies Open (Doha) and Baku Cup, and reached the final of the Mercury Insurance Open (Carlsbad, l. A. Radwanska) and the Toray PPO Tennis (Tokyo, l. A. Radwanska). During the 2011 season, she has reached nine semifinals (second to only Wozniacki) and is one of four players to achieve 50 match wins. The 27-year-old Russian first qualified for the Championships in 2004, and then in consecutive years from 2008-2010. Her best result came in 2008 when she finished as a runner-up to Venus Williams in a three-set final.

Sam Stosur:

“It’s very exciting to qualify for Championships for the second straight yet, especially because it will be the first year of this event in Istanbul. I look forward to playing in another unique venue. It’s the perfect way to end the great season that I’ve had,” said Stosur.

Stosur is making a second consecutive trip in singles to the Championships after a career season which included winning her first Grand Slam title at the US Open, where she defeated three-time US Open champion Serena Williams in the final. At Flushing Meadows, Stosur became the first Australian woman in 30 years to win a Grand Slam singles title. During the US Open, two records were set during Stosur’s matches – the longest match since the introduction of the tiebreak (against Nadia Petrova, 3 hours, 16 minutes) and the longest women’s tiebreak in a Grand Slam (against Maria Kirilenko, 32 points).

In addition to capturing the US Open trophy, Stosur reached two finals this year – at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia (Rome, l. Sharapova) and the Rogers Cup (Toronto, l. S. Williams). She won a doubles title at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix (Stuttgart) and reached the Wimbledon doubles final, both with Sabine Lisicki.