WTA announce cash injection

Schnyder: Winner in Bali

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The winners of WTA International Events in 2009 will have the chance of competing at the new lucrative Bali Tournament of Champions.

The WTA have announced on Monday that they are to scrap the current Bali Open, won on Sunday by Patty Schnyder, and replace it with a year-end tournament to rival the current championships in Doha.

The event will be limited to the top-10 tour players who have won at least one title during the season, as well as two wildcards.

However, no one who has qualified for the Doha Championships will be eligible.

The Bali tournament, which will be staged indoors, will be played from November 4-8 and feature a 12-women round robin singles format of three players to each group.

The winner of the event will pick up $600,000 and if that winner has won three International titles going into the tournament, they will earn the $1m bonus on top of their prize winnings.

Excitement

And officials at the popular tournament are excited at the new prospect.

"We are delighted that one of the most popular locations on the tour has been chosen Tournament of Champions," said tournament director Kevin Livesey.

"Bali has long attracted many of the top players, and now we can look forward to welcoming both established names and those who are beginning to make a major impact on the game.

"The prospect of a million-dollar bonus will guarantee excitement throughout the year as players compete in the International Series as part of their Road To Bali campaign."

The revamp is part of ambitious new plans for the women's game in 2009, with innovations including four mandatory mega-events in Beijing, Madrid, Miami and Indian Wells, California.

There will also be sanctions for non-participation, increased prize money and a shorter season.