After months of speculation that the year-end finale would take place in the Arab nation, the WTA has now confirmed that the WTA Finals will take place in Saudi Arabia.

The women’s tennis governing body stated earlier this afternoon that the Finals will from now on take place in Riyadh, the country’s capital, for three years. It means that after three years of travelling to three different locations, one of the most renowned tournaments on the circuit will finally have a permanent home.

In recent seasons, players have travelled to Guadalajara, Fort Worth, and Cancun for the Finals, sometimes with little notice and with reservations about the quality of the events’ management, due to the collapse of a long-term contract to host the tournament in Shenzhen.

The WTA Finals will be held in Riyadh later this year, as well as in 2025 and 2026, according to today’s announcement, though the agreement may eventually be extended.

A total of $15.25 million will be awarded in prize money, making it not only one of the biggest payouts in women’s tennis but also one of the biggest in all of women’s sports.

In a statement, Steve Simon, WTA Chairman and CEO said: “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. We’ve been impressed by the commitment shown by the Saudi Tennis Federation to grow the sport at all levels, and we do not 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.”

Iga Swiatek in 2024

At the moment ranked no.1, Iga played her last match on the 25^th of March when she surrendered to world no.15 Ekaterina Alexandrova 6-4 6-2 in the 4^th round in Miami (draw).

This year Iga achieved a composed 22-3 win-loss record. The Pole conquered 3 titles in 2024 in Australia, Doha and Indian Wells.