Sina Sports to support new WTA Elite Trophy

The Sina Sports division of Chinese internet operator Sina has agreed a deal to become the exclusive online broadcaster of new Women’s Tennis Association tournament the Elite Trophy, which will debut in the country later this year.

Sina Sports will stream live coverage of the new event via its online platforms to audiences in China. Sina Sports will also become the official website of the Elite Trophy.

The new tournament has been established to replace and revamp the WTA’s Tournament of Champions for those players who fail to qualify for the WTA Finals.

The debut tournament, which will feature a total prize fund of almost $2.2m (€1.7m), will take place at Zhuhai’s new tennis centre from November 2-8. After staging the 2015 Elite Trophy, the city will continue to host the tournament on an annual basis for the next four years through to 2019.

The 12-player singles field at the debut event, which will take the form of a four-group round robin format, will consist of players ranked from No.9, currently Garbine Muguruza (pictured), to No.20 and one wildcard pick.