New WTA event to start in Mallorca in 2016

The Women's Tennis Association (WTA) today announced that the WTA Board of Directors has approved a new grass court International event in Mallorca, Spain starting in 2016.

The 32-player main draw International event will be staged by e|motion managementGmbH at a multi-purpose-built facility, sports complex in Mallorca, Spain.

In 2016, Mallorca will join Birmingham in the second week of the three-week swing, resulting in five WTA grass court events in the lead-up to The Championships, Wimbledon.

An experienced sports and events promoter in Germany, e|motion currently manages the ATP 250 event in Stuttgart, including when the event becomes a grass court tournament in Stuttgart beginning in 2015.

The sports complex in Mallorca will feature five permanent natural grass courts andworld class facilities, including a retail development and a tennis academy.

The construction and maintenance of the grass courts will be done in collaboration with The All England Lawn Tennis Club, which has been a prime supporter in the project.

Richard Lewis, Chief Executive of The All England Lawn Tennis Club and The Championships, Wimbledon, said: "I am delighted to welcome today's announcement of the prospect of a new event in Mallorca and wish to thank the WTA, the Mallorca Council and emotion for their support of grass court tennis and their considerable efforts in creating an exciting new event for players and fans to enjoy.

The Aegon Classic in Birmingham is already a successful, well-established and growing event and having a second event in week two will be another important step in achieving our vision of a significantly strengthened grass court season."

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