Four cities in running for combined events- WTA chief

INDIAN WELLS, California, Mar 14 (Reuters) Four cities are in contention to host high-profile events featuring both men and women as the WTA continues its drive to make the Tour more attractive for players and fans alike, WTA Tour CEO Larry Scott said.

The WTA will announce its 2009 calendar in two weeks with Madrid and Rome, and Shanghai and Beijing contenders for the nine-day combined tournaments.

The European event would take place prior to the French Open and the China tournament later in the year. Participation in the tournaments are to be mandatory for the top players.

''Those are the strongest candidates,'' Scott said at the Pacific Life Open.

Rome hosts back-to-back men's and women's tournaments in May while Madrid hosts only a men's tournament in October.

Scott said Madrid organisers had applied to host a combined tournament at the Olympic facility it is constructing for a 2016 Games bid.

Shanghai does not have a women's tournament but is currently hosting the year-end men's Masters Cup. Beijing hosts mid-level men's and women's tournaments.

The 2009 tour will also host two combined events at Indian Wells and Miami, both of which will be mandatory.

The changes to the calendar come in response to a worrying rise in player withdrawals from events due to injury and fatigue. New proposals under a ''Roadmap 2010'' mean top players could play in fewer tournaments and have longer breaks after grand slams.

Scott also said that initial resistance to the changes and re-worked calendar from the United States Tennis Association had weakened and that the two were narrowing their differences.

''I think we've overcome those philosophical differences and are on the same page, but there is still a lot of negotiation about the finer points, not just with the USTA, but with a lot of tournaments around the world,'' he said.

But USTA spokesman Chris Widmaier indicated there was still a gap.

''Though talks have been encouraging, major differences remain,'' he said. ''At this point, we continue to go down parallel tracks.'' Reuters AD VP0755