Before the first professional match, there was a grand opening ceremony.

During the show, the captains and lineups of the teams were presented. For ‘Lions’ led by Svetlana Kuznetsova and Janko Tipsarevic, such players as Vera Zvonareva, Anastasia Potapova, Victoriya Tomova, Karen Khachanov, Alexander Shevchenko, and Laslo Djere will compete. For ‘Sphinxes’ led by Anastasia Myskina and Nikolay Davydenko, the team consists of Yulia Putintseva, Diana Schneider, Veronika Kudermetova, Adrian Mannarino, Roberto Bautista Agut, and Dusan Lajovic.

The mission of Alexander Bublik was also revealed: he is the secret player who will bring luck to one of the teams, choosing a different one each day of the tournament.

«The international tennis has returned to Saint Petersburg. Today, the confrontation between the 'Sphinxes' and the 'Lions' begins», said the tournament's general director, Alexander Medvedev. «Two architectural symbols of Saint Petersburg have given names to our teams. I am confident that every tennis player, whether in singles or doubles, will show everything they are capable of».

Medvedev also encouraged spectators to come to the tennis matches with their family and friends tomorrow. «It will be interesting!», he promised.