Premier events
When were the Premier Events introduced into Tennis?
Tennis
Tennis 2009 WTA Premier tournaments 2011 WTA Premier tournaments 2010 WTA Premier tournaments 2012 WTA Premier tournaments
Tennis-Premier_events 2009_WTA_Premier_tournaments-Abstract 2011_WTA_Premier_tournaments-Abstract 2010_WTA_Premier_tournaments-Abstract 2012_WTA_Premier_tournaments-Abstract
Women's tournament structure. Premier events. Premier events for women form the most prestigious level of events on the Women's Tennis Association Tour after the Grand Slam tournaments. These events offer the largest rewards in terms of points and prize money. Within the Premier category are Premier Mandatory, Premier 5, and Premier tournaments. The Premier events were introduced in 2009 replacing the previous Tier I and II tournament categories. Currently four tournaments are Premier Mandatory, five tournaments are Premier 5, and twelve tournaments are Premier. The first tiering system in women's tennis was introduced in 1988. At the time of its creation, only two tournaments, the Lipton International Players Championships in Florida and the German Open in Berlin, comprised the Tier I category.
The 2009 WTA Premier tournaments were 19 of the tennis tournaments on the 2009 WTA Tour. The WTA Tour is the elite tour for women's professional tennis. The WTA Premier tournaments all rank below the Grand Slam events and above the WTA International tournaments. They are divided into three levels: Premier Mandatory (Indian Wells, Miami, Madrid and Beijing), Premier 5 (Dubai, Roma, Cincinnati, Canada and Tokyo), and Premier (10 tournaments in Europe, United States and Australia). 
The 2011 WTA Premier tournaments are 20 of the tennis tournaments on the 2011 WTA Tour. The WTA Tour is the elite tour for women's professional tennis. The WTA Premier tournaments are divided into three levels which all rank below the Grand Slam events and above the WTA International tournaments. 
The 2010 WTA Premier tournaments are 19 of the tennis tournaments on the 2010 WTA Tour. The WTA Tour is the elite tour for women's professional tennis. The WTA Premier tournaments are divided into three levels which all rank below the Grand Slam events and above the WTA International tournaments. 
The 2012 WTA Premier tournaments are 21 of the tennis tournaments on the 2012 WTA Tour. The WTA Tour is the elite tour for women's professional tennis. The WTA Premier tournaments are divided into three levels which all rank below the Grand Slam events and above the WTA International tournaments. 