Tennis: WTA tournament returns to Istanbul

By Muhammed Enes Calli

ANKARA (AA) - Turkey's Istanbul was re-added to the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) 2020 season, WTA said on its website on Thursday.

The tournament will take place at the Turkish Tennis Federation Tennis Center between April 20-26.

WTA removed Istanbul from the competition schedule on Oct., 2019 but decided to re-add the Turkish city to the 2020 calendar.

"With the help of Octagon management, WTA tennis will come back to the Turkish city this spring in the form of an International-level event at the Turkish Tennis Federation Tennis Center," WTA said.

"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," WTA CEO Steve Simon said.

Also, President of the Turkish Tennis Federation, Cengiz Durmus said, "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."

Istanbul hosted the WTA international tournament for the first time in 2005 with a clay-surface court and Venus Williams was the first winner of this competition.

It served as a hard-surface tennis court from 2009 to 2015 before switched to clay-surface again in 2016.