Octagon and the Turkish Tennis Federation Announce New WTA Tournament in Istanbul, Turkey
Inaugural International Tournament to be Held at the Turkish Tennis Federation Tennis Center, April 20-26
Octagon Partners with the Turkish Tennis Federation to Bring WTA Tennis Back to Turkey
McLean, Va. – January 8, 2020 – Octagon and the Turkish Tennis Federation (TTF) today announced an agreement to stage a new WTA event in Istanbul, Turkey. The inaugural International level tournament in Istanbul will join the 2020 WTA Tour schedule, and be held at the Turkish Tennis Federation Tennis Center, April 20-26.
Highlighted by a rich history of hosting top-tier tennis tournaments and a wide variety of international events, including the season-ending WTA Championships from 2011-2013, this year Istanbul will once again play host to the world’s best professional tennis players.
Following a comprehensive and state-of-the-art renovation of the Turkish Tennis Federation Tennis Center, which includes all-new clay courts and tournament infrastructure, the new WTA tournament will be the first professional tennis event held at the historic club since its renovation.
“We look forward to working with the Turkish Tennis Federation and Octagon on building a very special WTA tournament in Istanbul,” said Steve Simon, WTA Chairman and CEO. “Istanbul has been home to many WTA events and we are pleased to continue the tradition of hosting the world’s best tennis players in Istanbul as we embark on an exciting new season.”
“Octagon is pleased to be working with the TTF to bring this world-class tournament to Istanbul,” said Alastair Garland, Vice President, Octagon Tennis. “Istanbul is a vibrant city with a rich tennis heritage, and we look forward to building on that history to continue to develop the sport of tennis in Turkey.”
“We are delighted to announce the organization of a new WTA international tournament in Istanbul, and look forward to welcoming players and fans to the Turkish Tennis Federation Tennis Center,” said Cengiz Durmus, President, Turkish Tennis Federation. “The WTA and Octagon play an important role in the path of making Turkey a true tennis country. With the support of the Turkish Ministry of Youth and Sports, we are taking strong steps towards achieving our goals.”
“I am honored and excited to serve as the tournament director for this incredible new international tournament in Istanbul,” said Miraç Namli, Tournament Director, WTA Istanbul. “Our aim will be to make all the players feel at home, help them have a great experience, and a good time in Istanbul.”
In addition to the new WTA tournament in Istanbul, Octagon owns or operates tennis events in more than 10 different countries. Octagon also represents more than 70 tennis personalities, and numerous International Tennis Hall of Fame inductees. The worldwide leader in sports and entertainment marketing, Octagon has been paving the way as the best in talent representation and events for over 40 years in the ultra-competitive tennis industry.
ABOUT OCTAGON:
At Octagon, we inspire brands, talent, and our people to see the world for all its potential. Then, we help our clients pick the right opportunity to make the next right move. We are a passionate team of more than 1000 savvy veterans and bold upstarts, relentlessly committed to helping our clients and our teammates push forward. See more at Octagon.com and join us @Octagon and @OctagonTennis.
ABOUT THE WTA:
Founded by Billie Jean King in 1973 on the principle of equal opportunity for women in sports, the WTA is the global leader in women’s professional sport with more than 1,650 players representing 84 nations competing for a record $180 million in prize money. In 2019, the WTA was watched by a record breaking global audience of 700 million. The 2020 WTA Tour includes 55 events and four Grand Slams, spanning across six continents and 29 countries and regions. The season culminates with the Shiseido WTA Finals Shenzhen, offering an unprecedented $14 million total prize purse and honoring the season’s top singles and doubles players. Further information on the WTA can be found at www.wtatennis.com.
