[女娃]Sharapova Qualifies to Defend Championships Title
加入了Kim跟戴姐的行列。
戴娃、P娃都還有機會。
ST. PETERSBURG, FL USA – Tennis megastar and defending champion Maria
Sharapova became the third marquee name to clinch a spot in the
prestigious Sony Ericsson WTA Tour Championships presented by Porsche
at STAPLES Center from Nov. 8-13, joining Kim Clijsters and Lindsay
Davenport.
Sharapova, who is third in the latest Porsche Race to the Championships
standings with 3,499 points, gives the coveted event a trio of current
and former No. 1 players, with several more likely to qualify during what
is expected to be a furious battle for the remaining five singles spots.
In Los Angeles, Sharapova, 18, will be trying to become the second player
(first since Chris Evert in 1972-73) to win back-to-back titles in their
first two appearances at the Championships.
Sharapova, who became an internationally-recognized star by winning the
2004 Wimbledon singles title at age 17, has been one of the most consistent
players on the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour this season, winning three titles and
reaching at least the quarterfinals in all 13 events she has played. She
has a match record of 50-9 heading into next week’s Porsche Tennis Grand
Prix in Filderstadt, Germany where she is expected to be the top seed.
Her stellar results this year boosted her to the top of the Sony Ericsson
WTA Tour world rankings, where she has remained since the September 12th
rankings. She is the first Russian woman player and the fifth youngest pro
to hold the No. 1 spot. Now qualified for the Championships, she will try
to become the fifth player overall to win consecutive season-ending titles.
“I am so excited to return to Los Angeles for the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour
Championships and defend my title. Winning the Championships last year
ranks as one of my greatest accomplishments and I look forward to closing
out my season again at the STAPLES Center.”
The fierce chase for the remaining five singles spots remains tight. Seven
players – Justine Henin-Hardenne, Mary Pierce, Amelie Mauresmo, Venus
Williams, Patty Schnyder, Nadia Petrova and Elena Dementieva – are
wrestling the next several weeks for a ticket to Los Angeles. Including
next week’s Porsche Tennis Grand Prix, there are only five tournament
weeks left for those contenders to earn a place in this storied year-end
classic.
The top eight singles players and top four doubles teams in the final Porsche
Race to the Championships standings qualify for the coveted season-ending even
t. The singles winner will earn $1 million, one of the richest prizes in wome
n’s sports history.
October 3, 2005
http://www.wtatour.com/newsroom/stories/NewsArticle_8153_rx.asp
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