Why the WTA Finals might leave Saudi Arabia before their contract ends

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The WTA Finals will wrap up its time in Saudi Arabia after the 2026 tournament, ending the event’s three-year run in the region.

Now, there are signs that this year’s event may not return to the Middle East as expected.

Speaking on a recent episode of ‘Served with Andy Roddick,’ tennis journalist Jon Wertheim shared his thoughts on where the future of the tournament might be headed.

“My guess is this has a good chance of being moved, and if it is moved, I think there will be significant interest for more familiar jurisdictions to pick up,” Wertheim said. “The current deal is just for one year, so if it doesn’t happen in Riyadh, they’ll have options.”

Jon Wertheim explains why the WTA Finals might leave Saudi Arabia ahead of schedule

Photo by Artur Widak/NurPhoto via Getty Images

Wertheim spoke about Saudi Arabia’s wider involvement in sports, including growing questions about the future of LIV Golf.

“It’s interesting that the WTA, which a few months ago was saying, we hope to renew our deal with Saudi Arabia, we hope to be here a long time,” he said.

“I would not, and this is informed speculation, don’t be surprised if the 2026 WTA Finals don’t move elsewhere, in part because of the war going on in the region, but in part because the Saudis clearly have cut ties with this event and the WTA.”

After less successful spells in Guadalajara, Fort Worth, and Cancun, Riyadh was seen as a more stable host for the event.

The agreement wasn’t extended beyond 2026 though. As Wertheim noted, there’s now every chance that even next year’s event could take place somewhere else.

So where might women’s tennis head next? One potential location has been suggested by Venus Williams herself.

Charlotte and Gdansk being considered as potential WTA Finals venues

Reports last month suggested that the WTA Finals might move to Charlotte, North Carolina, or Gdansk, Poland, from 2027.

If Saudi Arabia backs out of hosting in 2026, either city could step in sooner than expected.

Charlotte is an appealing option for many fans. There are three American women—Coco Gauff, Jessica Pegula, and Amanda Anisimova—currently ranked inside the world’s top 10. All three have put together impressive seasons at both the Grand Slam and WTA 1000 levels over the past year.

On the other hand, some argue that there are already plenty of tournaments held in the United States. Indian Wells, Miami Open, Cincinnati Open and US Open all take place there.

If that’s a concern for some fans and pundits then maybe Gdansk makes more sense as an alternative option.

Iga Swiatek has been one of the standout players on tour in recent years. If she qualifies for this year’s finals it would be a big boost to local interest if they were held in her home country.

There is still a long way to go before we find out where this year’s event will be played or whether Riyadh remains unchanged as the host venue. One thing is for sure though: whatever happens next should become clear over the coming months as details start to emerge about who could step in as hosts if needed.

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