The Sony Ericsson WTA Tour is close to buying San Diego’s Tier I Acura Classic for $7.5 million. The move is part of the WTA’s plan to remake its calendar by the end of the decade and bring some coherence to the schedule. Earlier this year they acquired Philadelphia’s Tier II Advanta Championships for $3 million.

The Acura Classic is currently owned by Promotion Sports Inc., a venture of former players Jane Stratton and Raquel Giscafré, and is held on the grounds of the La Costa Resort & Spa. Promotion’s contract with La Costa ends in 2007, and the WTA is rumored to be making plans to move the San Diego stop to China after it acquires it.

Earlier this year Stratton and Giscafré entered into talks with SFX, who runs the Legg Mason Tennis Classic in Washington, D.C. SFX was interested in purchasing the tournament to supplant the USTA Pro Circuit Women’s Tournament that they inaugurated last year. Negotiations stalled for undisclosed reasons.

The 23rd edition of the Acura Classic kicks off on Saturday, July 29 as part of the USTA’s U.S. Open Series. Slated to appear are Venus and Serena Williams, Lindsay Davenport, Maria Sharapova, Justine Henin-Hardenne, Martina Hingis, and the 2005 Acura champ, Mary Pierce.