With Eastern European Flavor, WTA Seeks Recipe for Success.

MONTREAL -- In the 1970s, the early days of the women's tennis tour, the calendar was dominated by tournaments in the United States, and the draws were filled mostly with Americans. At the end of 1980, the world rankings had 31 Americans in the top 50. Australia was next, with four. Combined, all of Eastern Europe had six players in the top 50 in 1980. There were still only six in 1990. In 2000, about a decade after the fall of the Soviet Union, there were nine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]