TENNIS MEGASTAR MARIA SHARAPOVA TO DEFEND HER SONY ERICSSON WTA TOUR

CHAMPIONSHIPS TITLE

ST. PETERSBURG, FL USA – Tennis megastar and defending champion Maria Sharapova became the third marquee name to clinch a spot in the prestigious Sony Ericsson WTA Tour Championships presented by Porsche at STAPLES Center from Nov. 8-13, joining Kim Clijsters and Lindsay Davenport, the Tour announced today.

Sharapova, who is third in the latest Porsche Race to the Championships standings with 3,499 points, gives the coveted event a trio of current and former No. 1 players, with several more likely to qualify during what is expected to be a furious battle for the remaining five singles spots. In Los Angeles, Sharapova, 18, will be trying to become the second player (first since Chris Evert in 1972-73) to win back-to-back titles in their first two appearances at the Championships.

Sharapova, who became an internationally-recognized star by winning the 2004 Wimbledon singles title at age 17, has been one of the most consistent players on the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour this season, winning three titles and reaching at least the quarterfinals in all 13 events she has played. She has a match record of 50-9 heading into next week’s Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Filderstadt, Germany where she is expected to be the top seed.

Her stellar results this year boosted her to the top of the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour world rankings, where she has remained since the September 12th rankings. She is the first Russian woman player and the fifth youngest pro to hold the No. 1 spot. Now qualified for the Championships, she will try to become the fifth player overall to win consecutive season-ending titles.

“I am so excited to return to Los Angeles for the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour Championships and defend my title. Winning the Championships last year ranks as one of my greatest accomplishments and I look forward to closing out my season again at the STAPLES Center.”

The fierce chase for the remaining five singles spots remains tight. Seven players – Justine Henin-Hardenne, Mary Pierce, Amelie Mauresmo, Venus Williams, Patty Schnyder, Nadia Petrova and Elena Dementieva – are wrestling the next several weeks for a ticket to Los Angeles. Including next week’s Porsche Tennis Grand Prix, there are only five tournament weeks left for those contenders to earn a place in this storied year-end classic.