The WTA is gearing up for a historic event—the first professional women’s tennis tournament in Saudi Arabia, scheduled to take place in Riyadh in November. As part of the lead-up to the season finale, former world No. 1 and WTA Finals Tournament Director, Garbine Muguruza, along with WTA Community Ambassador Judy Murray, participated in WTA Community Clinics. These clinics are designed to inspire the next generation of tennis enthusiasts in Riyadh.
Muguruza and Murray visited the Net Tennis Academy and the British International School Riyadh. They also spent time with the Zahra Breast Cancer Association, sharing personal experiences and connecting through the power of tennis. Additionally, they collaborated with coaches from the Saudi Tennis Federation (STF) and local academies to support the country’s tennis development programs.
The WTA Finals Riyadh is a crucial part of the STF’s initiative to attract 1 million people to tennis by 2030. With the sport rapidly growing in Saudi Arabia—already boasting over 14,000 female players—the focus is on creating more opportunities to play and enjoy the game. Judy Murray expressed her joy at the progress made in empowering new players: “The kids’ clinics are all about teaching them and having fun, trying new skills, and leaving with smiles on their faces. We also enjoyed the fact that we’ve given the coaches fresh content and techniques to further develop their training programs in the future.”
Bringing the WTA Finals to Riyadh goes beyond showcasing top-level tennis. Murray highlighted the broader community impact, which includes visits to schools, sports centers, and special needs groups, emphasizing community engagement as a vital part of the tournament.
Scheduled for November 2-9, 2024, the WTA Finals Riyadh will feature the Top 8 singles players and doubles teams from the PIF Race to the WTA Finals, competing for the prestigious Billie Jean King and Martina Navratilova trophies. The event marks the first professional women’s tennis tournament in Saudi Arabia, and is part of a three-year partnership between the WTA and STF. It promises to deliver a week of world-class sport and entertainment.
Tournament Director Garbine Muguruza expressed her excitement for the upcoming event: “So much work has gone into the planning and it’s a great feeling to be back, working with the kids on their game and meeting the people who are helping develop tennis in Saudi Arabia.”
Top-ranked players, including world No. 1 Iga Swiatek and 2024 US Open champion Aryna Sabalenka, have already qualified, with the final spots to be confirmed in the coming months. This groundbreaking event promises to be a highlight of the WTA season and a milestone for tennis in Saudi Arabia. (source: Saudi Tennis Federation)
