WTA Finals: Saudi’s PIF Splashes $15 Million with Iga Swiatek, Coco Gauff, and Others Set to Battle at Riyadh in Official Announcement

WTA stars did not have the best experience at the WTA Finals 2023 in Cancun. While players kept complaining about the uncomfortable playing conditions, it hindered the interest of the fans as well. However, it is time that both the players as well as the fans can refuel their tanks of excitement, as the WTA Finals move to a luxurious land.

According to the recent update posted by the tour’s official X account, WTA Finals will be moving on to Riyadh, Saudia Arabia for the next three years. Offering players with a massive $15.25 million prize money, the tournament is confirmed to be one of the most anticipated ones, welcoming the top 8 players of the season.

Being detailed with the announcement, the WTA has also confirmed the date of the event, marking its beginning on the 2nd of November. As the WTA stars continue to move ahead on their paths, the event is surely set to double up the competition!

“The big women’s tennis tournament coming to Saudi Arabia is a really important moment for tennis there. It can inspire a lot of girls and women, not just in sports, but in life too,” said Saudi sports minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Faisal Al-Saud in an interview.

“People started talking about bringing the event to Saudi Arabia after the men’s tennis tour announced their finals would be there from 2023 to 2027,” he added.

The WTA chose Riyadh after looking at different options and talking to players. Mentioning the reason why the authorities decided to put their faith in the nation, he said, “Saudi Arabia has been spending a lot on sports like soccer, Formula One, and golf recently.”

As the authorities have finally announced the new destination, it still remains to be seen how fans and players view this decision.

WTA chairman Steve Simon expresses his excitement over the decision

The announcement of the new location for the WTA Finals follows the intentions of immense growth. While the authorities have been quite excited to bring this forward, WTA’s CEO Steve Simon came forward to drop an excited response over the new beginning.

“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,” he said. Along with that, he also appreciated the significant role Saudi Arabia has been playing to propel the growth of sports.

“We’ve been impressed by the commitment shown by the Saudi Tennis Federation to grow the sport at all levels, and we have no doubt that players and fans can look forward to a world-class event in Riyadh as the finale to the 2024, 2025 and 2026 seasons,” Simon added. As the women athletes get this new location as a surprise along with the record-breaking prize money, it surely is a massive opportunity for them.

ALSO READ: WTA Finals: Martina Navratilova And Chris Evert’s ‘Betrayal’ Plea Sidelined As Staggering Saudi Deal Takes Over Tennis