Sports

3 new combined tennis events in 2011

The WTA Tour will join with the ATP Tour to stage three newly-combined men's and women's tournaments in 2011.

The WTA Tour will join with the ATP Tour to stage three newly-combined men's and women's tournaments in 2011.

The WTA Tour said Friday the women's tour will return to Washington after an absence of 20 years as it links up with the annual men's tournament held at William H.G. Fitzgerald Tennis Center.  

The Washington tournament will run the week of July 18. A combined event will take place starting Aug. 15 in Cincinnati, where the men and women have been playing in separate weeks.

The Italian Open in Rome will also combine its two events, playing the week of May 9.

Also, Canada will stage a "virtual combined event" in Montreal and Toronto, during which fans in one city will be able to view matches from the other.