Going to WTA CHampionships in Istanbul to see Serena
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Well i have never been there but my mother has.She was there for a week in the best neighborhood in Istanbul and she said it was ok.However she said you need to be very careful on the streets and keep your eyes wide open because the officials she was there with said that you could lose a wallet or some small thing like that.Hope i didn't scare you with this and that you still go and see her 
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^^^ Thanks, that's what I heard too. Not a nice thing to know, but a friend of mine wants to go with me now, so hopefully it will be all right.
Does anyone know what's the sitting plan at the WTA Championships? I mean, on which side the umpire's chair is situated? I would like to avoid booking tickets on that side.
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Does anyone know what's the sitting plan at the WTA Championships? I mean, on which side the umpire's chair is situated? I would like to avoid booking tickets on that side.
The umpire's chair is situated in front of block 118.
Sinan Erdem Dome is only 3 metro stops away from Atatürk Airport. As far as i know WOW Airport Hotel, WOW Istanbul Hotel, Kocasinan Hotel, Titanic Port Hotel, Ataköy Marina Hotel are close to Sinan Erdem but i don't know enough about hotels to be honest. Ataköy, Şirinevler, Bakırköy, Yenibosna and Bahçelievler are the closest areas. But even if you're away from there, it's easy to reach by metrobus or metro if you stay somewhere close to a station.
The closest station to Sinan Erdem is Ataköy-Şirinevler which is 10-15 minutes walking distance away.
Rail network map
http://www.rayturk.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/ag_2200px_1546px-01.jpg
I suggest you to use metrobus or metro instead of bus because there's too much traffic in Istanbul. Hope you can come and have fun.
Sinan Erdem Dome is only 3 metro stops away from Atatürk Airport. As far as i know WOW Airport Hotel, WOW Istanbul Hotel, Kocasinan Hotel, Titanic Port Hotel, Ataköy Marina Hotel are close to Sinan Erdem but i don't know enough about hotels to be honest. Ataköy, Şirinevler, Bakırköy, Yenibosna and Bahçelievler are the closest areas. But even if you're away from there, it's easy to reach by metrobus or metro if you stay somewhere close to a station.
The closest station to Sinan Erdem is Ataköy-Şirinevler which is 10-15 minutes walking distance away.
Rail network map
http://www.rayturk.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/ag_2200px_1546px-01.jpg
I suggest you to use metrobus or metro instead of bus because there's too much traffic in Istanbul. Hope you can come and have fun.
You can buy pre-paid and refillable İstanbulkart. It can be used for any kind of transportation. You pay a deposit for the card itself (which is refundable when you’ll return the card) and then you can load as much as you want. It’s sold and loaded at small kiosks which also sell newspapers, snacks etc. You can also load money using self-service machines at major transit stops.
Another option is buying non-refillable card which allows 1,2,5 or 10 usages. You can buy them from the same kioks or self-service machines.
Basic public transit fares are (with İstanbulkart);
Bus, metro, tramway = 2 Turkish Lira (TL)
Metrobus = 1,6 – 3 TL (depend on distance)
Non-refillable cards; Birgeç card (1-time) 4 TL, İkigeç (2-time) 7 TL, Beşgeç (5-time) 15 TL, and Ongeç (10-time) 28 TL.
Another option is buying non-refillable card which allows 1,2,5 or 10 usages. You can buy them from the same kioks or self-service machines.
Basic public transit fares are (with İstanbulkart);
Bus, metro, tramway = 2 Turkish Lira (TL)
Metrobus = 1,6 – 3 TL (depend on distance)
Non-refillable cards; Birgeç card (1-time) 4 TL, İkigeç (2-time) 7 TL, Beşgeç (5-time) 15 TL, and Ongeç (10-time) 28 TL.
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^^^ thanks a million!
So I bought my tournament tickets and it says I can collect them from a WILL CALL, but it does not give me any information if it's at Sinan Erdem or somewhere else. Do you know if I can collect the tickets at Sinan Erdem?
So I bought my tournament tickets and it says I can collect them from a WILL CALL, but it does not give me any information if it's at Sinan Erdem or somewhere else. Do you know if I can collect the tickets at Sinan Erdem?
You're welcome!
Will call window at Sinan Erdem will open the first day of the tournament but if you want to print them before, you should go to one of biletix retail outlets.
http://www.biletix.com/saleschannelretail/ISTANBUL/en
Will call window at Sinan Erdem will open the first day of the tournament but if you want to print them before, you should go to one of biletix retail outlets.
http://www.biletix.com/saleschannelretail/ISTANBUL/en
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Thx a lot. I noticed that all matches start late at 5pm which sucks a bit because it means getting back to the hotel very late in the evening/night may be troublesome if you are using public transport. Until what time do metro/metrobuses run?
Did you book your hotel? If you can go back to hotel by metrobus, don't worry. Metrobus runs until 3-4am, maybe more later. Almost all the people used metrobus last year and metrobuses were very crowded. Metro also must be open too but i'm not too sure.
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Have fun my friend and may ur presence bring her luck.
It sucks that the Championships didn't work out in Los Angekes, unfortunately the LA crowd was more interested in Serena than they were tennis- but who could blame them. I went ever year and my first time I had to be in attendance when Maria beat Serena in the final- the air was sucked out of the arena as almost everyone there was rooting for Rena.
Fortunately I do have good memories too, like when she battled Capriati in an epic SF showdown.
We want first hand reports and lots of pics!
It sucks that the Championships didn't work out in Los Angekes, unfortunately the LA crowd was more interested in Serena than they were tennis- but who could blame them. I went ever year and my first time I had to be in attendance when Maria beat Serena in the final- the air was sucked out of the arena as almost everyone there was rooting for Rena.
Fortunately I do have good memories too, like when she battled Capriati in an epic SF showdown.
We want first hand reports and lots of pics!
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Have fun my friend and may ur presence bring her luck.
It sucks that the Championships didn't work out in Los Angekes, unfortunately the LA crowd was more interested in Serena than they were tennis- but who could blame them. I went ever year and my first time I had to be in attendance when Maria beat Serena in the final- the air was sucked out of the arena as almost everyone there was rooting for Rena.
Fortunately I do have good memories too, like when she battled Capriati in an epic SF showdown.
We want first hand reports and lots of pics!
Thank you. I hope I will bring her luck (as for now I hope she will play!).
You are so lucky to attend those tournaments back then, but yeah, that final sucked, Serena got badly injured, she couldn't serve, move or make her shots at all that's when Maria got the advantage and won. Serena was wincing in pain and Sharapova was celebrating every point as if she was really winning them
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No, I haven't booked my hotel yet but I am trying to choose between 4 that I am looking at, that's why I asked about the metro. One hotel that I liked most is by MERTER Metro station and I was wondering how long the metro runs so that I don't have to worry about getting back.
According to Istanbul transportation website, metro runs until 00.05 am.
http://www.istanbul-ulasim.com.tr/s...0&ls=a409d5c6-eb75-4856-83c6-c3c418baa1b7&d=0
http://www.istanbul-ulasim.com.tr/s...0&ls=a409d5c6-eb75-4856-83c6-c3c418baa1b7&d=0
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I'll be in Istanbul too! Watching SF and F matches Hope to see you, Serena fans
Hope to see you, Serena fans 
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Who do we want in her group?
Vika/Maria can't be drawn in the same group
Serena/Aga can't be drawn in the same group
Petra/Angie can't be drawn in the same group
Na/Sara can't be drawn in the same group
Serena/Maria/Angie/Sara?
Vika/Maria can't be drawn in the same group
Serena/Aga can't be drawn in the same group
Petra/Angie can't be drawn in the same group
Na/Sara can't be drawn in the same group
Serena/Maria/Angie/Sara?
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I haven't even thought about that yet...Who do we want in her group?
Vika/Maria can't be drawn in the same group
Serena/Aga can't be drawn in the same group
Petra/Angie can't be drawn in the same group
Na/Sara can't be drawn in the same group
Serena/Maria/Angie/Sara?
The only thing I hope for is that she's fit and healthy for the tournament after recent flu/food poisoning. Some people on Twitter say she may not play as she's still suffering from the poisoning apparently... I am holding back with booking my flight tickets. Hotel can be canceled any time.
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