Sony Ericsson Championships Trivia 

(MENAFN - The Peninsula) In 2003, a round robin format feeding into a four-woman single elimination draw was held in singles for the first time since 1982

In 2004, Maria Sharapova became the fifth newcomer to reach the final, behind Tracy Austin in 1979, Adrea Jaeger in 1981, Lindsay Davenport in 1994 and Martina Hingis in 1996

In 2004, over half the filed was from one nation (Russia - 5 of 8) for the first time since March 1986 (9 Americans of 16 players)

Only two players have won the Championships title on debut, those being Serena Williams (2001) and Sharapova (2004)

Two players have been offered a wild card entry into the Championships: Tracy Austin in 1980 and Monica Seles in 1995

The longest Championships win streak was compiled by Martina Navratilova, who won 21 straight matches in winning five titles between 1983 and 1986 and reaching the quarter-finals in 1987. The second longest win streaks in tournament history is held by Chris Evert and Monica Seles, who each won 12 matches in a row

Between 1984 and 1998, a best-of-five sets final was used to decided the Championships final; three finals went the distance: 1990 - Seles vs Gabriela Sabatini (the first woman's match in 89 years to extend to five sets since 1901 Philadelphia Championships); 1995 - Steffi Graf vs A Huber; 1996 - Graf vs Hingis. Six finals went to fours sets (1986 March, 1987, 1989, 1991, 1993 and 1998)

On 20 occasions have finalists at the Championships reached the final without the loss of a set; the most recent player to do so was Justine Henin in 2007 (she won the final in three sets)

Only eight times has a Championships winner not dropped a set en route to the title; Chris Evert achieved the feat three times (1972, 73, 75) and Martina Navratilova did it twice (1984, 85); Gabriela Sabatini did not drop a set in 1988 while Serena Williams and Kim Clijsters did the same in 2001 and 2002 respectively

The defending champion has lost prior to the semi-finals six times

1987 QF - (2) Navratilova lost to (6) Sabatini 6-4, 7-5.

1988 QF - (2) Navratilova lost to (8) Helena Sukova 2-6, 7-5, 6-3.

1994 QF - (1) Graf lost to (5) Mary Pierce 6-4, 6-4.

1995 QF - (5) Sabatini lost to Zvereva 6-2, 5-7, 7-5.

1998 1R - (3) Jana Novotna lost to Graf 6-7(5), 6-4, 6-1.

2000 1R - (2) Davenport lost to Dementieva 3-6, 7-6 (7), 6-4.