WTA Finals ‘to leave’ Saudi Arabia after 2026, Charlotte emerges as host option

Three-year deal expires after this year

Charlotte hasn’t hosted a WTA event since the 1970s

Tennis’ WTA Finals are set to leave Riyadh after this year, with US city Charlotte emerging as the leading candidate to host the event from 2027, according to Bounces.

The WTA Tour’s season-ending championship has been staged in Riyadh since 2024 as part of a three-year agreement between the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) and Saudi Arabia. The lucrative deal has continued to attract criticism, with tennis legends Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova among the high-profile figures to voice their concerns.

Despite this, WTA chief executive Portia Archer signalled a desire last November to extend the partnership beyond 2026, pointing to strong financial backing, high-quality facilities, and growing interest in women’s tennis across Saudi Arabia and the wider Middle East.

While Archer also confirmed that discussions were ongoing, negotiations have reportedly not resulted in a renewal.

Charlotte is now believed to be in pole position to host the WTA Finals from 2027 onwards. The city has not staged a WTA Tour event since the 1970s, although it was previously linked with a potential relocation of the Cincinnati Open in 2023, a move that ultimately did not materialise.

SportsPro says…

Archer had been clear in her preference to keep the WTA Finals in Saudi Arabia, previously describing the move to the Gulf state as a “good decision”. But much has changed in the months since her comments nearly five months ago.

Ongoing conflict in the Middle East has added a layer of uncertainty around major international sporting events in the region. At the same time, reports have suggested that Saudi Arabia and its Public Investment Fund (PIF) are reassessing aspects of their sports investment strategy. In tennis, that has already seen the kingdom exercise an opt-out clause to end its agreement to host the Next Gen ATP Finals ahead of schedule.

Whatever the driving factors behind the split, the WTA now faces the challenge of replacing a significant revenue source while ensuring long-term stability for the event. On the upside, the next host of the finals is surely unlikely to court as much controversy.

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