Garbine Muguruza officially named tournament director of the WTA Finals in Riyadh

The first WTA Finals in Riyadh is nicely shaping up despite criticism from fans.

Garbine Muguruza officially named tournament director of the WTA Finals in Riyadh

Garbine Muguruza Riyadh WTA (via Imago)

The WTA recently appointed Garbine Muguruza as the Tournament Director for the WTA Finals Riyadh. This event marks the end of the WTA season and features the top eight singles players and doubles teams from the year. Muguruza, a former World No.1 and winner of the WTA Finals in 2021, will lead the strategic planning and organization of the tournament from 2024 to 2026.

During her tennis career, the former Spanish tennis star achieved significant success, winning two Grand Slam titles and qualifying for the WTA Finals multiple times. She aims to promote tennis across the Middle East and encourage healthy lifestyles among young people in the region. Her role will involve collaboration with the WTA, the Saudi Tennis Federation, and the Ministry of Sports.

I feel very privileged to be able to contribute to the future of this great sport as Tournament Director of the WTA Finals Riyadh. know how special this event is for our top players, and I’ve also seen its potential to inspire communities all over the world.
Garbine Muguruza said after her appointment.

Muguruza joins a notable group of former players who now hold key roles in organizing WTA tournaments worldwide. This includes other former stars like Alicia Molik and Amelie Mauresmo.

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I’m excited to work with a great team to present a showcase for women’s tennis that not only grows tennis but encourages all fans, and especially girls and women, to pursue their dreams.
Muguruza added.

In addition to Muguruza’s appointment, Judy Murray, a respected coach, will serve as the WTA Finals Community Ambassador, focusing on grassroots tennis initiatives and mentoring programs in Saudi Arabia. The Saudi Tennis Federation has set an ambitious goal of inspiring one million people to take up tennis by 2030.

Riyadh selected as the host of WTA Finals until 2026

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia will host the WTA Finals from 2024 to 2026. This decision follows a new deal between the WTA and the Saudi Tennis Federation. The 2024 Finals will be held from November 2-9 and will feature the top 8 singles players and doubles teams. Riyadh was chosen after months of careful evaluation of bids from different regions.

Riyadh WTA
Riyadh WTA (via X)

The agreement with Saudi Arabia promises record prize money of $15.25 million for the 2024 Finals, with increments expected in 2025 and 2026. The partnership aims to boost women’s tennis through significant investments in marketing and fan engagement. This will help grow the global fanbase for the sport.

Saudi Arabia has seen a significant rise in sports participation, tripling since 2015. The country has also hosted several professional and exhibition tennis events in recent years. These include the Next Gen ATP Finals in Jeddah and the Diriyah Tennis Cup. Grassroots tennis is also expanding rapidly, with more clubs and equal participation by boys and girls in schools.

The WTA and the Saudi Tennis Federation will work on long-term projects to encourage more young people to play tennis. They plan to use the WTA’s expertise to inspire and engage children. These efforts will support the WTA Foundation’s programs and involve top WTA players. More details will be shared as the 2024 Finals approach.

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