Tennis fever is set to return to Singapore as organizers of the BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global today unveiled a line-up of new and enhanced programmes that will connect the 10-day festival to people from all walks of life in Singapore.

Building upon record crowds and excitement from last year, the 2015 edition of the international sport entertainment spectacle takes place 23 October to 1 November, and will see an expanded eight days of competition and the continued inclusion of the WTA Legends Classic, WTA Rising Stars Invitational and WTA Future Stars Finals competitions.

“We’re thrilled with the positive response we received from last year’s inaugural WTA Finals, and we want to build on that success and take the tennis extravaganza to the next level this year. One of our key objectives has always been to provide a platform for fans from all walks of life and everywhere to engage with the sport, and this year, we have ramped up our efforts toward realizing this vision by keeping tennis and fans at the heart of everything that we do,” said Sarah Clements, Vice President of Tennis (Asia), at event promoter World Sport Group.

“Singapore was the first city in Asia Pacific ever to host the WTA Finals. Clearly, the fans are embracing our sport and this spectacular event with record audiences and attendance in 2014. Women’s tennis has come a long way since we opened our first regional office in China with only two events there in 2008.

This year, there are as many as 23 events throughout Asia Pacific including the season-ending WTA Finals in Singapore where the world’s top 8 singles and doubles women’s tennis players compete at the highest level.  In line with our commitment to reach out to the community to establish a foundation for women’s tennis in Asia Pacific, we also introduced the WTA Future Stars program in 2014 which has expanded from 12 to 17 markets this year. Through this initiative, girls from the next generation are able to compete for a chance to play alongside the best in Singapore and aspire one day to play in the WTA Finals themselves. Singapore is attracting the eyes of the world. Tennis in Asia Pacific has never been better than now,” said Melissa Pine, Vice-President of WTA Asia Pacific and Tournament Director of the WTA Finals.

The current Road to Singapore leaderboard comprises the following players (as of Monday, 20 July): 1. Serena Williams, 2. Maria Sharapova, 3. Simona Halep, 4. Carla Suarez Navarro, 5. Garbine Muguruza, 6. Lucie Safrarova, 7. Karolina Pliskova, 8. Petra Kvitova, 9. Timea Bacsinszky, 10. Angelique Kerber. In addition, Caroline Wozniacki (11), Agnieszka Radwanska (12) and Ana Ivanovic (16), who all qualified for last year’s WTA Finals, are not far behind.