- Ajla Tomljanović and Elise Mertens were among the players who added a touch of glamour to the evening in their choice of kebaya, while some displayed their talents off-court, trying their hand at local percussion instruments
- Mr Edwin Tong, Minister for Culture, Community and Youth & Second Minister for Law, was Guest of Honour at the Players’ Welcome Party
Mr Edwin Tong, Minister for Culture, Community and Youth & Second Minister for Law (back row, fourth from left), with WTA players and representatives from Women’s Tennis Association, Sport Singapore, Kallang Alive Sport Management, APG and Singapore Tennis Association.
(Photo Credit: Ministry of Culture, Community & Youth)
SINGAPORE, 27 JANUARY 2025 – Singapore officially welcomed Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) players and officials to the Lion City at the Singapore Tennis Open (STO) 2025 Players’ Welcome Party. Held on the eve of the main draw, the welcome party, organised by Kallang Alive Sport Management (KASM), glittered with star power. WTA players including Ajla Tomljanović and Elise Mertens added a touch of glamour to the evening by donning the kebaya, a traditional South-east Asian women's garment, which was recently inscribed on UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list. Attendees were treated to dynamic beats by Rhythm Masala, a local fusion percussion group. Some of the players also joined in their performance and tried their hand at the traditional instruments, making it a vibrant showcase of rhythm and unity.
Mr Edwin Tong, Minister for Culture, Community and Youth & Second Minister for Law, was the Guest of Honour at the welcome party.
“We are delighted to welcome the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) back to Singapore as we host the Singapore Tennis Open (STO) for the next three years. With the inaugural Singapore Tennis Invitational Cup held alongside the STO, these events affirm our commitment to hosting world-class sporting events and growing our local and regional sports ecosystem. Beyond thrilling on-court action, we are excited to offer free matches, fun community activities and special meet-and-greet opportunities with selected WTA players and regional tennis legends. The Kallang Tennis Hub is a dynamic space where the community can come together to train, play and connect. We hope these events will inspire and ignite a passion for sport among Singaporeans and the next generation of tennis players,” said Mr Tong in his address. Also present at the welcome party were executives from WTA, Sport Singapore, KASM, Singapore Tennis Association (STA), and tournament partners and sponsors.
Players expressed their excitement for the STO and appreciation for Singapore’s hospitality. Anna Kalinskaya shared, “Singapore and all Singaporeans I have interacted with have been absolutely incredible. This is a beautiful city to explore and the hospitality here has been amazing. The past few days have been fantastic, and I can’t wait to experience even more on and off the court.”
Emma Raducanu said, “I’m feeling happy and ready to do my best here at the Singapore Tennis Open. Singapore has always held a special place in my heart. I’ve been working hard to prepare for the tournament and I’m looking forward to keep building.”
Wang Xinyu added, “I look forward to competing at the Singapore Tennis Open, especially at the brand-new Kallang Tennis Hub. It’s always exciting to step onto a fresh stage. Every match is a chance to challenge myself and grow.”
This inaugural edition of STO will feature a 32-player singles main draw, and a 16-pair doubles draw. Saturday’s draw ceremony saw big name clashes revealed, including top seed Kalinskaya, set to face Caroline Dolehide in their Singapore debut. Other notable first round matches include seventh seed Raducanu against Cristina Bucșa and second seed Elise Mertens against Taylor Townsend, fresh from her Australian Open doubles triumph. More on the draw ceremony can be found here.
The STO matchups can be found here.
Local and international tennis fans, spectators and members of the public can also catch the Singapore Tennis Invitational Cup taking place alongside STO on 28 January and from 30 January to 1 February. The invitational cup is held at the Kallang Tennis Hub outdoor courts. Entry is free for all, on a first-come, first-served basis. More information about the schedule can be found here.
Off-court, over at the Fan Village where everyone is welcomed, there are interactive tennis-themed activities and meet-and-greet sessions with WTA stars and STO Community Ambassadors, Tamarine Tanasugarn and Yayuk Basuki. During tournament week, several WTA players will also make an appearance at tennis clinics conducted by STA, ActiveSG Tennis Academy and the Junior Team Tennis League.
Main draw action at Kallang Tennis Hub kicks off on 27 January, 12:00pm (UTC+08:00). The STO promises an exciting experience for fans, bringing world-class tennis action back to Singapore. Limited seats are still available, so grab your tickets here!
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MEDIA ENQUIRIES
Isabella Wong
Manager, Mutant Communications
isabella@mutant.com.sg
Gerri Kwan
Executive Manager, Communications
Kallang Alive Sport Management
gerri.kwan@sportshub.com.sg
ABOUT SINGAPORE SPORTS HUB
Singapore Sports Hub is an iconic, premier destination offering sporting, entertainment and lifestyle experiences for all to enjoy. This world-class development is managed by Kallang Alive Sport Management Co Pte Ltd (KASM). It offers programming that comprises international recreational and competitive events, live entertainment as well as activities that cater to the broader community. The Singapore Sports Hub aims to serve the sporting and entertainment needs of people from all walks of life.
Home to unique world-class sports facilities within the city, the Singapore Sports Hub plays a critical role in accelerating the development of Singapore’s sports industry, excellence and participation. Located in Kallang, the Singapore Sports Hub includes the following facilities:
- A 55,000-capacity National Stadium with a retractable roof and movable tiered seating
- A 12,000-capacity Singapore Indoor Stadium with pillarless interior
- A 6,000-capacity OCBC Aquatic Centre that meets FINA standards
- A 3,000-capacity OCBC Arena which is scalable and flexible in layout
- Kallang Tennis Hub, Singapore’s first international tournament-ready indoor tennis facility
- Kallang Football Hub housing Singapore’s National Training Centre for football
- Water Sports Centre featuring kayaking and canoeing
- 41,000 sqm Kallang Wave Mall, including indoor climbing wall and Splash-N-Surf facility (Kids Waterpark, Stingray and Lazy River)
- 100PLUS Promenade that encircles the National Stadium
- Singapore Youth Olympic Museum & Singapore Sports Museum
- Shimano Cycling World
- Daily community facilities and activities, including beach volleyball, hard courts (futsal, basketball and netball) lawn bowls, giant chess, skate park and running & cycling paths.
For more information, please visit the Singapore Sports Hub website:
Website: www.sportshub.com.sg
Facebook: @sgportshub
Instagram: @sgsportshub
LinkedIn: @SingaporeSportsHub
X: @sgsportshub
TikTok: @sgsportshub
