Follow Spanish Immigration and Life in Spain: Xinhua News Agency, Paris, June 1 (Reporters Zhang Han and Wang Zijiang) The Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) announced on June 1 during the French Open that Spanish tennis star Sanchez, who hung up her racket 13 years ago, will serve as the ambassador for the "Road to Singapore" event and participate in the WTA Legends event held at the end of the year in Singapore.
As one of the most successful players in women’s tennis, the 44-year-old tennis legend has won 29 WTA singles titles, including four Grand Slam titles, which she claimed in 1989, 1994, and 1998 at Roland Garros, and in 1994 at the US Open. Additionally, she has 69 doubles titles, six of which are Grand Slam titles.
In February 1995, she became the second female player after Martina Navratilova to hold the world number one ranking in both singles and doubles simultaneously, and she was inducted into the Tennis Hall of Fame in 2007. Furthermore, she helped the Spanish team lift the Fed Cup trophy four times, becoming the Spanish player with the most Olympic gold medals.
"I am very excited to participate in this event in Singapore. The last time I competed there was when I was 14 years old, which was my first time competing abroad in my career," she said at a press conference held on June 1 at Roland Garros. "I have heard many people talk about the grandeur of last year’s finals in Singapore, and I can’t wait to experience it for myself."
In the Singapore Legends event, which features only four female players, another confirmed participant is Czech tennis star Navratilova. As the season finale for the WTA 2015 season, this year’s finals in Singapore will offer a record total prize money of $7 million, and the main event has been further expanded, running from October 23 to November 1. Singapore has secured the hosting rights for this year-end event for five years, from 2014 to 2018.
"Road to Singapore" is a year-long initiative that serves fans by tracking WTA stars, rising stars, and future hopefuls, promoting the sport of women’s tennis.