Baotou to host intl tennis tournament

The 2018 ITF International Women's Tennis Tournament (Baotou division) is to open in Baotou, North China’s Inner Mongolia autonomous region, on May 20, according to a press conference.

The tournament will be held at the tennis stadium of Baotou Sports Center and will run until May 27.

On the day of the event, the tennis stadium of Baotou Sports Center is expected to be open to the public for the first time.

Around 100 professional players from 12 countries and regions including China, the United States, Russia and Australia will compete.

The competition represents the ITF International Women's Tennis Tournament’s first event in China during 2018.

The contest will feature women's singles and doubles. The doubles finals and singles semifinals will be held on May 26. The singles finals will be held on May 27.

A total prize of $60,000 is available to winners of the tournament.  

The ITF International Tennis Women's Tournament is a tennis event with global influence. Tennis stars including Maria Sharapova, Serena Williams and Li Na have all competed at the ITF arena. The tournament has become something of a cradle of international tennis stars. Each round of qualifying players will receive the corresponding WTA World Ranking points.