WTA Finals raises tennis fever ahead of opening event in Riyadh

• WTA Finals Tournament Director Garbiñe Muguruza and WTA Community Ambassador Judy Murray inspired young tennis fans in the capital in preparation for the season finale
• We’re just weeks away from the first professional women’s tennis event to take place in Saudi Arabia from November 2-9
• The world’s best 8 singles and doubles player teams that will compete in the WTA Finals in Riyadh, tickets are on sale now

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia — With just five weeks until the start of the WTA Finals, the first professional women’s tennis tournament to come to Saudi Arabia, Riyadh residents have the opportunity to experience tennis for themselves through WTA Community Clinics.

Led by former World No. 1 and WTA Finals Tournament Director Garbiñe Muguruza and WTA Community Ambassador Judy Murray, the WTA returned to the capital to train the rising stars of Saudi tennis. The star duo also worked with the Saudi Tennis Federation and coaches from local academies to advance the sport’s development programmes.

Along with visits to Net Tennis Academy and British International School Riyadh, Muguruza and Murray also spent time with members of the Zahra Breast Cancer Association, sharing their life experiences to connect with the power of the game.

The WTA Finals Riyadh are part of the STF’s strategy to encourage 1 million people to take up tennis by 2030 by creating more opportunities to play, follow and watch tennis at all levels. This is a result of the rapid growth of the sport in the Kingdom, with more than 14,000 female players currently playing the game.

Judy Murray, who acts as WTA Community Ambassador as part of the event, was delighted to see the progress being made in the Kingdom to get new players involved in the game and further development of young people in the sport: “The children’s clinics are all about teaching them and having fun, trying new skills and leaving with smiles on their faces.” “It was rewarding to see the kids embrace this experience, and we enjoyed giving the coaches new content and techniques to further develop their training programs in the future.”

“Bringing the WTA Finals to Riyadh goes beyond showcasing incredible tennis; It’s about strengthening society. “Our visits to schools, sports centers and special needs groups allow us to tailor community engagement initiatives alongside the tournament.”

The 2024 WTA Finals Riyadh features the top 8 singles players and doubles teams in the PIF Race to the WTA Finals, competing in a round-robin format with the singles champion lifting the WTA Finals Billie Jean King Trophy and the doubles champion winning the WTA Finals. Martina Navratilova Award.

On her return to the capital as part of the countdown to the WTA Riyadh Finals, Tournament Director Garbiñe Muguruza shared her excitement for the season finale in November: “We are only a few weeks away and it is really exciting to be so close to the big event.

“A lot of effort has gone into the planning and it feels great to be back, working on the game with the kids and meeting the people who have helped develop tennis in Saudi Arabia. “We have a lot to look forward to in November and we can’t wait for the tournament to start.”

WTA World No. 1 Iga Swiatek and 2024 US Open champion Aryna Sabalenka are among the first qualifiers for the season-ending event, with final places to be confirmed at the remaining events of the 2024 season.

The world’s best tennis players will compete in the end-of-season championships to be held in Riyadh between 2-9 November 2024, making history as the first professional women’s tennis event held in Saudi Arabia. This event, the first of a three-year partnership between the WTA and the Saudi Tennis Federation (STF), offers fans a week of world-class sport and entertainment.

Tickets for the WTA Finals Riyadh are on sale now, more information can be found at: webbook.com.