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The season-ending WTA Finals will be held in Saudi Arabia’s capital Riyadh from 2024 to 2026, the women’s tennis body said on Thursday, ending months of speculation and marking the Gulf country’s latest foray into the sport.
Riyadh will host the season finale — which features the top eight singles players and doubles teams — from November 2 to 9 and replaces 2023’s hosts Cancun, Mexico.
“To have a women’s tournament of this magnitude and profile is a defining moment for tennis in Saudi Arabia. The WTA Finals has the power to inspire far beyond the sport, especially for our young girls and womensaid the Saudi sports minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Faisal Al-Saud.
Talk that the event could be shifted to Saudi Arabia had intensified after the men’s ATP Tour said last August its Next Gen Finals would be held in Jeddah from 2023 to 2027.
“The WTA selected Riyadh following a comprehensive evaluation process over several months, which has included assessment of multiple bids from different regions and engagement with players,” it said in a statement.
Saudi Arabia has invested heavily in sports like football, Formula One and golf in the past few years while critics accuse the kingdom of using its Public Investment Fund to “sportswash” its human rights record.
The country denies accusations of human rights abuses and says it protects its national security through its laws.
WTA chief Steve Simon said in 2023 that Saudi Arabia presented “big issues” as a host for women’s tour events but also acknowledged the progress it had made and continued to engage with players.
“Bringing the WTA Finals to Riyadh is an exciting new opportunity for us and a positive step for the long-term growth of women’s tennis as a global and inclusive sport,” Simon said.
“We’ve been impressed by the commitment shown by the Saudi Tennis Federation to grow the sport at all levels.”
World No 1 Iga Swiatek and Caroline Wozniacki said at the Australian Open that engagement offered the chance to spark positive change.
There has been pushback from within the game with greats Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova saying the WTA’s values were in stark contrast to those of Saudi Arabia and holding the event there would not represent progress but “significant regression”.
But the country’s ambassador to the US, Reema bint Bandar Al-Saud, said the criticism represented stereotypical and western-centric views.
Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
Women’s tennis finals to be held in Saudi Arabia
The season-ending WTA Finals will be held in Saudi Arabia’s capital Riyadh from 2024 to 2026, the women’s tennis body said on Thursday, ending months of speculation and marking the Gulf country’s latest foray into the sport.
Riyadh will host the season finale — which features the top eight singles players and doubles teams — from November 2 to 9 and replaces 2023’s hosts Cancun, Mexico.
“To have a women’s tournament of this magnitude and profile is a defining moment for tennis in Saudi Arabia. The WTA Finals has the power to inspire far beyond the sport, especially for our young girls and womensaid the Saudi sports minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Faisal Al-Saud.
Talk that the event could be shifted to Saudi Arabia had intensified after the men’s ATP Tour said last August its Next Gen Finals would be held in Jeddah from 2023 to 2027.
“The WTA selected Riyadh following a comprehensive evaluation process over several months, which has included assessment of multiple bids from different regions and engagement with players,” it said in a statement.
Saudi Arabia has invested heavily in sports like football, Formula One and golf in the past few years while critics accuse the kingdom of using its Public Investment Fund to “sportswash” its human rights record.
The country denies accusations of human rights abuses and says it protects its national security through its laws.
WTA chief Steve Simon said in 2023 that Saudi Arabia presented “big issues” as a host for women’s tour events but also acknowledged the progress it had made and continued to engage with players.
“Bringing the WTA Finals to Riyadh is an exciting new opportunity for us and a positive step for the long-term growth of women’s tennis as a global and inclusive sport,” Simon said.
“We’ve been impressed by the commitment shown by the Saudi Tennis Federation to grow the sport at all levels.”
World No 1 Iga Swiatek and Caroline Wozniacki said at the Australian Open that engagement offered the chance to spark positive change.
There has been pushback from within the game with greats Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova saying the WTA’s values were in stark contrast to those of Saudi Arabia and holding the event there would not represent progress but “significant regression”.
But the country’s ambassador to the US, Reema bint Bandar Al-Saud, said the criticism represented stereotypical and western-centric views.
Reuters
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