Martina Hingis - Tennis Canada

 Women’s Tennis Returns to Toronto in 2007

The ladies of the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour will make their much anticipated return to Toronto’s Rexall Centre from August 11-19, 2007 for the Rogers Cup presented by American Express.  On the heels of the most successful event in its history, the Rogers Cup presented by American Express will once again be the hottest event on the summer calendar.  With several sold out sessions in 2006 now is your perfect opportunity to purchase your tickets for next year.      

Without a doubt, these “girls of summer” will bring with them their style, charismatic personalities and, most of all, their exceptional skill to one of the most prestigious events the Tour has to offer.  As the third oldest tournament on the calendar, this major Canadian stop is rich in history and boasts an impressive list of past champions including Martina Navratilova, Steffi Graf, Chris Evert, Monica Seles, Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario, Amelie Mauresmo and Serena Williams.

With the introduction of such innovations as electronic line calling technology and on-court coaching, women’s tennis is flourishing in the 21st century.  The game is experiencing a revolution that is sure to add to the drama and excitement of this year’s tournament.

In addition to showcasing the best of women’s tennis, the 2007 Rogers Cup will feature a variety of activities that will keep you coming back day after day.  Relax at the Coronaville patio and enjoy some great food and drink, listen to live music, grab a seat at the practice courts and see how the players prepare themselves for matches or simply walk around the retail village and do some summer shopping.

The last time Toronto tennis fans saw the world’s top women in 2005, it was Kim Clijsters who raised the coveted trophy after emerging victorious in an all-Belgian final against Justine Henin-Hardenne. 

Since then, the best are bunching even closer together at the top of the rankings.  At the Sony Ericsson Championships in Madrid, Amelie Mauresmo, Maria Sharapova, and Henin-Hardenne engaged in a three-way battle to determine who would finish the 2006 season as the world’s No.1 player.  In one of the tightest races ever, Henin-Hardenne defeated both Mauresmo and Sharapova en route to not only winning her first title at the season-ending event, but also earning herself a place at the top of her sport.

Perhaps the biggest story of 2006 was the triumphant return of the “Swiss Miss” Martina Hingis after a four year absence.  The two-time Rogers Cup Champion didn’t miss a beat, declaring herself a force to be reckoned with finishing the year ranked inside the Top 10. Her season was highlighted by another trip to the final of the Rogers Cup presented by National Bank in Montreal.

Fans of women’s tennis have also seen the emergence of a group of talented young players ready to become the stars of tomorrow.  Leading the way is Serbian sensation Ana Ivanovic who announced her arrival amongst the Tour’s elite after capturing her first Tier I title at the 2006 Rogers Cup presented by National Bank.  She is joined by fellow countrywoman Jelena Jankovic, Nicole Vaidisova of the Czech Republic, Russians Dinara Safina and Anna Chakvetadze as well as Israel’s Shahar Peer.

The 2007 Rogers Cup presented by American Express also promises to have a distinctly Canadian flavour.  Aleksandra Wozniak and Stephanie Dubois lead a strong Canadian contingent hoping to make waves in Toronto this summer.  Wozniak cracked the Top 100 on the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour rankings for the first time in her young career at the end of 2006 while Dubois was the hometown hero of last year’s Rogers Cup in Montreal, making an improbable run to the third round.

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