Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Women's tennis on Thursday (April 4) saw a landmark decision being made by the Women's Tennis Association (WTA). The WTA in a historic announcement said it would move the year-end finals to Saudi Arabia. The Arab nation, emerging as a major sporting nation in recent years will host the WTA finals starting from 2024 until 2026. The move will see the top eight women tennis stars compete at the year-end event in both singles and doubles tournament.

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WTA makes landmark decision

“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 women,” the Saudi sports minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Faisal Al-Saud told  Reuters.

Saudi Arabia, which for years was averse to women’s sports and had a strict dress code in place will now host Women's Tennis Association (WTA) finals. The 2024 finals to be held from Nov. 2-9 has moved to the Arab nation from last year’s host Cancun in Mexico.

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The move will also see Saudi add to its already rich sports calendar which includes the Liv-PGA merger in golf, WWE’s annual pay-per-view shows and the ever-expanding Saudi Pro League (SPL). The development will now see women’s tennis become a part of Saudi Arabia's sporting calendar. The country already has a dedicated Saudi Grand Prix held annually in Formula One, making it one of the most powerful sports host nations in the world.

ALSO READ | Tennis: WTA finals to be held in Saudi Arabia starting 2024 in landmark move

Saudi will become the second Arab nation after Qatar to host the WTA finals. Qatar had hosted the event between 2008 and 2010. While China was the last Asian nation to host the WTA finals in 2019.

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Who are the defending champions?

Iga Swiatek is the defending singles champion of the WTA finals having beaten Jessica Pegula in the final in 2023. Laura Siegemund and Vera Zvonareva are the defending women’s doubles champions having beaten Nicole Melichar-Martinez and Australia Ellen Perez in the final. Martina Navratilova remains the most successful player in the final having won eight singles titles and 13 in doubles.