Women’s tennis is moving on from one of its most polarising experiments. The WTA has confirmed it will not renew its contract with Saudi Arabia beyond 2026, bringing an end to a three-year arrangement that generated enormous prize money but also sustained controversy from the moment it was signed.
The news, broken by respected tennis journalist Ben Rothenberg on Monday, ends a partnership that sent the WTA Finals to Riyadh from 2024 through 2026. The deal had been pitched as a breakthrough moment for the sport — a $15.5 million prize pool, world-class facilities, and a bold expansion into a new market.
WTA CEO Portia Archer had even signalled interest in extending beyond the initial three-year run, telling The Athletic last year that the tour would enjoy staying longer than agreed. Those talks with the Saudi Tennis Federation ultimately broke down without a renewal.
The fallout from the Saudi arrangement was never far from the surface. Legends Martina Navratilova and Chris Evert were vocal critics, raising concerns about human rights and the treatment of women in the country.
Players including Coco Gauff admitted to serious reservations before ultimately making the trip. Matches were reportedly played in front of crowds as small as 400 people at times, raising questions about the event’s ability to grow the sport in the region.
With the 2026 edition in Riyadh set to be the final chapter, the WTA is already in discussions about a new home from 2027 onwards. Charlotte, North Carolina has emerged as the leading contender, with Sports Business Journal and Tennishead both reporting the city is ahead in the race. Gdansk, Poland has also been named as an equally serious option.
Charlotte has significant momentum behind it — its 19,000-seat Spectrum Center recently underwent a $245 million renovation, and exhibition events featuring players like Gauff, Madison Keys, and Frances Tiafoe have drawn tens of thousands of fans there in recent years.
Keys herself has been openly supportive: “I think it would be a great city to host just because you already have so many fans built in,” she said. Pegula, meanwhile, noted she has been “a little informed” but that no firm decision has been made yet.
The timing could hardly be better for a North American move. Four of the eight players who qualified for the WTA Finals last year were American, a reflection of the extraordinary depth of US women’s tennis right now.
Bringing the sport’s year-end showcase back to the continent where the game has its deepest roots — and its biggest television audience — feels less like a retreat from ambition and more like a recognition of where women’s tennis genuinely thrives
