World’s 5th Top Ranking Tennis Player with other World-Class Players Confirmed for Thailand Open 2020 GSB and EA Main Sponsors
The “GSB Thailand Open 2020 presented by EA”, a major women’s tennis tournament held in Thailand, will welcome world-class tennis players, including Elina Svitolina from Ukraine, the WTA player ranking 5th in the world, for the championship tournament taking place at True Arena, Hua Hin, during 10th to 16th February. A number of international tennis players ranked among the top 50 to top 100 have also joined the competition, such as defending champion Dayana Yastremska, the rising star from Ukraine; Zheng Saisai from China; and Hsieh Su-wei from Taiwan.
On 16th January 2020, at Ballroom 1, 7th Floor, Holiday Inn Sukhumvit 22, Bangkok, H.E. Suwat Liptapanlop, former Deputy Prime Minister and the current Chairman of the Tournament Committee, presided over the press conference covering the topics of tournament sponsors and the world-class tennis players participating in the WTA International Series Tournament, the “GSB Thailand Open 2020 presented by EA”. The total prize award is USD 275,000, or approximately 8.8 million baht, for the tournament, which will be held at True Arena Hua Hin, Prachuap Khiri Khan from 10th to 16th February 2020.
H.E. Khun Suwat presented a number of important details regarding the tournament’s progress at the press conference. With the official tournament name of “GSB Thailand Open 2020 presented by EA”, the Government Savings Bank (GSB) and Energy Absolute PLC (EA) are the main sponsors, along with a number of official partners as well, including InterContinental Hotels Group, Dhipaya life Assurance Public Company Limited, Origin Property PLC, Thai Drinks, CH. Karnchang PLC, BCPG PLC, Bangkok Airways PLC, PepsiCo, True Corporation, Tourism Authority of Thailan, MontAzure, Gulf Energy Development PLC, Sila Maximize Co., Ltd., Sixt Limousine Thailand, Cal-Comp Electronics (Thailand), B.Grimm Group, APG Sport Agency, True Arena Hua Hin, Vana Nava Water Jungle Hua Hin and Holiday Inn Resort Vana Nava Hua Hin.
“I am thrilled that the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) has entrusted Proud Group Company Limited and True Arena Hua Hin with the tournament organization. At present, all the work is being prepared. ELC technology or Electronic Line Calling will be introduced to review and track the spots where the balls hit the court, which often can be difficult for human eyes. Furthermore, the tournament will be broadcasted live and worldwide via Fox Sports. In Thailand, an live HD broadcast will be available on True Tennis HD channel of True Vision,” said H.E. Khun Suwat.
He also added, “With regard to the world’s top female tennis players, fans eager to see who will be coming this year for GSB Thailand Open 2020 presented by EA will be very pleased. The lineup is headlined by Elina Svitolina, from Ukraine, a WTA player with a current ranking of 5th in the world and who reached the No. 3 spot in 2017. She is credited with 13 WTA women’s singles titles, including the WTA Finals 2018. She has been through to the semi-finals of Grand Slam tournaments in Wimbledon and US Open 2019 and a runner-up in the Hopman Cup 2016.”
In addition, the defending champion, Dayana Yastremska, rising star from Ukraine and world ranking No. 47 at that time she won the Thailand Open 2019 at True Arena, Hua Hin, at the age of 18, will also make a return. She has currently improved her ranking to No. 24 in the world. A number of Chinese tennis players will also join the competition for which a high number of fans are expected to turn up. The Chinese tennis players include the world ranking No. 41 Zheng Saisai, No. 51 Wang Yafan, No. 71 Zhu Lin, No. 104 Peng Shuai, and No. 134 Wang Xiyu, along with No. 36 Hsieh Su-wei from Taiwan.
Moreover, various Top 50 andTop 100 players are also participating in the tournament, such as Magda Linette, the world No. 43, from Poland; No. 82 Danka Kovinić from Montenegro; No. 83 Tatjana Maria from Germany; No. 95 Paula Badosa from Spain; and No. 97 Samantha Stosur from Australia. Other players, from among the top 150, include No. 102 Nao Hibino from Japan; No. 113 Patricia Maria Țig from Romania; No. 139 Priscilla Hon from Australia; No. 124 Varvara Flink from Russia; No. 125 Katarzyna Kawa from Poland; No. 130 Maddison Inglis from Australia; No. 127 Barbora Krejčíková from the Czech Republic and No. 143 Barbara Haas from Austria.
Representing Thai tennis players, “Tammy” Tamarine Tanasugarn, Thai tennis star and former world ranking No. 19, will compete in women’s doubles. She will be joined by “Eve” Patcharin Cheapchandej who has received a wildcard for the singles main draw and “Mai” Mananchaya Sawangkaew who received a wildcard for the qualifiers. Both Patcharin and Mananchaya received the wildcards for the competition from Road To Thailand Open 2020 tournament.
H.E. Khun Suwat furthermore explained that the tournament organizer had also scheduled a variety of fascinating activities for the tennis players to take part in, such as visiting the “Pink Park Village” of Queen Sirikit Centre for Breast Cancer Foundation in Min Buri, Bangkok. Ticket sales, without deducting costs, will be donated to the Pink Park Village for end-stage cancer patients. Other activities include visiting Phra Pradaeng District neighborhood to educate the people on breast cancer and to organize a tennis clinic with kids in the community. The children will be offered the opportunity to enjoy Vana Nava Water Jungle Hua Hin and play beach tennis with the players at InterContinental Hua Hin Resort. Cultural activities, including learning about the way of life in Thailand, giving offerings of food to monks, cooking, making garlands, weaving Khomapastr cloth, painting hand-printed fabrics in traditional Thai style and experiencing the natural beauty of Hua Hin through forest planting, will also be available for the players.
Tennis fans who would like to watch the game courtside (800 to 1,800 baht) can purchase tickets at www.thaiticketmajor.com, and Vana Nava Water Jungle Hua Hin website at
www.vananavahuahin.com/th. For more information, please contact True Arena Hua Hin at 032-909-633 or arenahuahin.com.