WTA Finals Set to Leave Riyadh with Charlotte as Possible New Host

By Erik Gudris | Tuesday, March 31, 2026
Photo credit: Photo by FAYEZ NURELDINE/AFP via Getty Images)

The WTA Finals, the WTA’s season ending championship, is set to leave Riyadh, Saudi Arabia after a controversial three year stay.

Per a new report from Ben Rothenberg at BOUNCES, the WTA is already exploring new host cities after the event is staged this year for the last time. 

This comes after WTA CEO Portia Archer previously said that the WTA hoped to extend their existing contract.

“We signed on for a three-year term; we’d actually enjoy being here for even longer than we have been, or than we are agreed to be here,” Archer told The Athletic last year.

However, the talks between the WTA and the Saudi Tennis Federation did not lead to a renewal, hence the need to find a new site. 

Jessica Pegula, speaking to media at this week’s Charleston Open, indicating that she was not surprised by the news.

“I obviously kind of knew the three years is going to be up…I’ve been a little informed, but not too much because I don’t think they have any idea where it’s going to be yet.”

During its time in Riyadh, the WTA Finals boasted history making record prize money for a single event. Over the three years, Riyadh paid out $15.5 million in prize money. Last year’s champion, Elena Rybakina, won over $5.235 million dollars, making it the biggest payout for a men’s or women’s singles champion, in tennis history.

Despite the record prize money, the WTA Finals in Riyadh drew criticism as part of the ongoing view that Saudi Arabia hosts multiple sporting events as a way to “sportswash” its human rights issues.

As far as where the next host city will be for the event, Charlotte, North Carolina has emerged as a leading contender, although nothing is confirmed yet.

While Charlotte has not had any official tour events since the 1970’s, the city has in recent years hosted several successful exhibitions, including the Charlotte Invitational the last two years. Cinncinati Open tournmanent owner Ben Navarro had threatened to move that event to Charlotte, before ultimately decided to stay in Cinncinnati.

This year’s WTA Finals will take place from November 7 to 14.