The WTA Finals’ is relocating to Indian Wells, California, from Saudi Arabia in a premature end to a three-year hosting agreement.
The WTA confirmed Wednesday that the November 8-15 event would no longer be held in Riyadh. The tour also announced the 2026 edition is slated for the United States.
American tennis star Coco Gauff welcomed the move, though she hopes the season-ending tournament will eventually secure a more permanent home after years of shifting venues.
Gauff, who won the tournament in the Saudi Arabian capital two years prior, acknowledged the value of bringing elite tennis to new audiences but voiced no objections to the change.
Speaking at Wimbledon, she stated, “I’m really biased, so I’m really happy it’s in the U.S. As an American, it’s cool.”
She also mused about the unusual timing for the Californian desert event: “It’s going to be weird going to be in Indian Wells in November. I’m very curious if we’re going to be playing in the night or the day. I hope the day, because I feel it’s going to be a little chilly at night.”
Reflecting on her past success, Gauff added, “Obviously I have great memories in Saudi, playing and winning my title there two years ago. We had a warm reception from them. It was really cool just to bring I think the first women’s professional tennis event being held there.”
Despite her positive experiences, the young champion echoed a sentiment regarding the tournament’s frequent moves.
“I definitely would like to see a more permanent home for it,” Gauff concluded, referencing the event’s recent history of being hosted in Shenzhen, Guadalajara, Fort Worth, and Cancun since 2019.
WTA FINALS ‘SAGA’ CONTINUES, PEGULA SAYS
Gauff’s compatriot Jessica Pegula said it was not the fault of the women’s body that they had been unable to keep the event at a single venue for a long period, suggesting the conflict in the Middle East might have also been a factor.
“The saga of the WTA Finals continues,” Pegula added.
“It’s like we can’t catch a break, and I don’t necessarily think it’s our fault. There tends to be a lot of world conflicts that seem to happen and get in the way.”
The WTA did not give a specific reason as to why it was taking the event out of Saudi Arabia, which has been accused by human rights advocates of investing heavily to “sportswash” its human rights record.
The kingdom denies accusations of human rights abuses and says it protects its national security through its laws.
The Saudi Tennis Federation said together with the WTA it had reached thousands of people through community programs aimed at benefiting women and also increased the visibility of women’s tennis across the kingdom and globally.
Pegula said the WTA eventually had to do what it was comfortable with and she knew Indian Wells was an option due to its ability to deliver a top-class event.
“It’s unfortunate we couldn’t quite end in Riyadh on a good note. But things happen. So we just have to go along with that decision. Hopefully I can be there in November,” she said.
