Tennis tournament
The WTA Indian Open is a tournament for professional female tennis players, held regularly since 2003 in various Indian cities. It was a WTA Tour event played on outdoor hardcourts. In 2008, it was classified as a Tier II event with the prize money of $600,000 – this made it the biggest women's tennis tournament in South and Southeast Asia that year. Following the restructuring of the WTA Tour in 2009, there were no WTA tournaments in India until 2022 except some WTA Challengers.
For the first time since 2008, a WTA 250 tournament will be held in India in 2022.
History.
The event started in 2003 as a Tier IV event. It was held in SAAP Tennis Complex in Hyderabad, Telangana until 2005. In 2006, the event was upgraded to a Tier III event, and was moved to Bangalore. In 2008, it was upgraded further to a Tier II event.
The 2008 edition was won by 26-year-old, then eight-time Grand-Slam champion Serena Williams, who defeated Patty Schnyder in the final, winning her 29th WTA Tour title.
Sponsors.
From 2003–2005, the event was sponsored by Andhra Pradesh Tourism (AP Tourism), and the tournament was named accordingly. In 2006 and 2007, the event was sponsored by Sony Ericsson, and the tournament was also named after the sponsor. In 2008, it was sponsored by the Canara Bank which would have continued to sponsor the event if it had been held 2009 onwards.
References.
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