Riyadh, Saudi Arabia set to host WTA Finals from 2024 - 2026

[D-Lite]

Riyadh selected as the host of WTA Finals from 2024-2026

The 2024 season-ending Finals will take place between Nov. 2-9, featuring the Top 8 singles players and doubles teams in the Race to the WTA Finals.

www.wtatennis.com

$15.25 million (250k more than 2023 ATP Finals prize fund) on offer for the ladies at the 2024 WTA Finals in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. I suppose it's likely the ATP Finals may offer a touch more this year compared to 2023 but that's a huge increase in prize money on the WTA side of things for the 2024 edition. What do you make of this? I would like to see the finals rotate between locations every 3 years but I wonder if this deal will be extended to say 10 years as I don't know where else would or could offer this level of prize money. I feel like when somewhere like SA gets hold of such an event it could essentially become a mainstay on the tour with the WTA not being willing to reduce the prize fund to go elsewhere. Last year's temporary venue in Cancun offered $9 million and Singapore offered $7 million when it was held there for a number of years. Shenzhen was offering $14 million in 2019 before the pandemic struck. Perhaps we will now see the event passed between SA and China going forward.

 

[Tshooter]

Predicting that posters that never watch a WTA match will have very strong opinions on this.

 

[GodlessEndeavor]

So when will Nike and Adidas launch the Burqa / Niqab tennis clothing series?

 

[Bill Lobsalot]

So when will Nike and Adidas launch the Burqa / Niqab tennis clothing series?

I already have the tennis sandals.

 

[robyrolfo]

That prize money is super high for what is effectively a mini-tournament. And last year's edition was a joke. I hope these ladies aren't going to keep complaining about prize money.

 

[tennis24x7]

The more important question is if Men are allowed to watch from the stands ?

 

[D-Lite]

The more important question is if Men are allowed to watch from the stands ?

Why wouldn't they be allowed to watch? They will be. They watched the WWE women when they arrived in SA. My question is whether the WTA women can wear the types of outfit they wear year round, for instance the knot in the back of the top like Badosa/Raducanu (not that they will qualify this year). In WWE they had to wear long sleeves and tights with a tunic like aesthetic.

 

[BenC]

So when will Nike and Adidas launch the Burqa / Niqab tennis clothing series?

 

[Marius_Hancu]

A great in-depth analysis by Stephanie Myles. A must read.
Opinion: Caught between a rock and a hard place, WTA chooses Saudi Arabia

​

 

[Gary Duane]

Predicting that posters that never watch a WTA match will have very strong opinions on this.

You are so right!

 

[Bhagi Katbamna]

Once again, Saudi Arabia reminds the world of the golden rule. My guess is they won't be flying any rainbow flags over there.

 

[octobrina10]

Saudi Arabia has big ambitions:

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1792627515221012795

PIF and WTA announce multi-year partnership

As a Global Partner of the WTA, PIF will become the first-ever naming partner of the WTA Rankings, the highest official rankings for women’s professional tennis players.

www.wtatennis.com

 

[Bill Lobsalot]

I thought North Korea was in the running?

 

[flyingboris]

Saudi Arabia has big ambitions:

Saudi Arabia has big ambitions wallet.

 

[octobrina10]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1806030683833307167

 

[octobrina10]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1806040490166624677

 

[bluetrain4]

So when will Nike and Adidas launch the Burqa / Niqab tennis clothing series?

I think they already have Dri-Fit (or its equivalent) hijabs for athletes who want/need to wear one.