PTT Pattaya Open | Tournament Info
PTT Pattaya Open
Background Information
Event Name: PTT Pattaya Open
No of Years Held: 18 years (since 1991)
Dates of Event: 7 - 15 February 2009
Venue: Dusit Thani Hotel, Pattaya
Event Category: Part of the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour for professional women tennis players. The tour comprises of 50 tournaments in 33 countries on 5 continents.
Prize Money: Minimum US$220,000
Ranking Points: Winner 280 points
Runner-up 200 points
Semi-finalist 130 points
Quarter-finalist 70 points
The Players: Up to 60 of the leading women’s tennis players from around the world. Players with rankings higher than 700 are not allowed to compete on the tour
No of Courts: 3 match courts and one practice court at the Dusit Thani. The centre court has seating for 3,000 spectators on finals weekend.
Schedule of Play: Qualifying rounds: 7 – 9 February 2009
Main Draw: 9 – 15 February 2009
Support Events: Star Search: January - February 2009
Pre-Qualifying: January 2009
Sanctioned by: Women’s Tennis Association (WTA)
Organised by: Pentangle Promotions Co., Ltd
TV Coordinator: CMM Media Network Co., Ltd (Thailand)
IEC in Sports (International)
TV Exposure: Local TV:
“Live” broadcast on Saturday 14 February and Sunday 15 February from 15.00 – 17.00 on national TV and the Sports Channel.

International TV:
“Live” broadcast to Russia, Ukraine, Europe and Asia
Officials: Tournament Director: Mr Geoffrey Rowe
WTA Supervisor: Mr Jimmy Moore
Referee: Mr Nao Kawatei

The Pattaya professional women’s tennis tournament is now in its 18th year on the Sony Ericsson WTA world tour.

This year the tournament opens a chapter in its history. As a result of major changes implemented by the WTA, the tournament has been upgraded to be part of the new “international series” with prize money increased to a minimum of US$220,000.

The tournament has been re-named the PTT Pattaya Open, with PTT Public Co., Ltd joining Pattaya City as the title sponsors of the tournament and will be staged at the Dusit Thani Hotel. Pattaya from 7 – 15 February 2009.

As a result of the upgrade, the facilities at the Dusit Thani, Pattaya have been improved to include a fourth court at the venue, an increased stadium capacity and expanded work areas for the players, officials and the media.

Over the years the tournament has hosted some of the top stars in women’s tennis: Anna Kournikova, Martina Hingis, Patty Schnyder, Maggie Maleeva and Conchita Martinez to name a few. In its new format the PTT Pattaya Open will continue to attract both the established stars and the rising stars of women’s tennis.

The PTT Pattaya Open also has the proud record of providing opportunities for local Thai players to compete at the highest level in women’s tennis. Over 100 wild cards in the singles and doubles draw have been given to Thai tennis players since the tournament was first held in 1991. This policy of supporting Thai players has been continued again this year with youngsters competing in the “Star Search” programme getting the opportunity to win wild cards into the qualifying round of the tournament.

Throughout its existence the Pattaya Women’s Open has consistently proven to be one of the most popular events on the tour. It is one of the few tournaments to be staged in a beach resort environment and the only one where the courts are sited next to the sea. The unique setting in the Dusit Thani, Pattaya combined with the renowned Thai hospitality brings players back again and again, year after year.

The tournament is not only popular with the players, but attracts huge media interest both in Thailand and overseas. This year’s Pattaya Women’ Open singles semi-finals and final will be televised “live” to over 200,000,000 people in Russia, Ukraine, Asia and Europe.

The Pattaya Women’s Open has been at the forefront of women’s tennis in Asia for longer than any other professional tennis tournament in the region. The event continues to prosper and grow thanks to the ongoing support of Pattaya City, PTT Public Co.,Ltd, the Sports Authority of Thailand and Chonburi Provincial Administration.

The PTT Pattaya Open remains today one of the most unique tournaments on the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour. Its popularity and reputation continues to grow, which is a tribute to the venue, the organization and to the Pattaya City authorities who have given their full support to the tournament over 18 years of unbroken competition.