In its Top 10 list of trends and topics from the past decade, the WTA made sure to mention the involvement of sponsors, noting:

Early sponsors of the Tour were trailblazers, risking money and reputation for a new concept, and over the years companies such as Virginia Slims, Kraft, Corel and Sanex have been vital to its evolution. But the biggest corporate commitment to date was forged in 2005, when then-CEO Larry Scott presided over a six-year, $88 million sponsorship deal with Sony Ericsson, the biggest in the history of women's sports. Significant support has also come from Whirlpool and Dubai Duty Free, as well as the many tournament-specific sponsors that keep the Tour on the road. (Indeed, during Scott's tenure overall sponsorship revenues leapt 500 percent.) In 2009, the player...