WTA TOUR HIRES ITS FIRST- EVER VP OF MARKETING

     The WTA has hired David Fechtman as the tour's first-ever VP
of Marketing and Communications.  The hiring comes as part of the
Tour's worldwide expansion and will provide the "first
opportunity to market women's tennis under the unified banner of
the WTA Tour," according to WTA Tour CEO Anne Person-Worcester.
Worcester told THE SPORTS BUSINESS DAILY that Fechtman's
responsibilities will include the development of a comprehensive
global marketing and communications plan that will include tour
licencing, merchandising, endorsements, broadcast, publishing,
public relations promotions and advertising.  Worcester:  "The
new position is vitally important to all of our marketing plans."
Worcester said the WTA's comprehensive plan will mark "a series
of firsts":  "In terms of women's tennis, we're launching the
first-ever licensing and merchandising program, the first-ever
centralized TV package and the first-ever tour-wide endorsement
program" (THE DAILY).  Fechtman's experience includes positions
in marketing, broadcast and operations with World Cup '94, the
ITF, ATP, the Grand Slam Cup and Hakuhodo Advertising (WTA TOUR).