WTA Finals moved from Riyadh to Indian Wells

The WTA Finals, the traditional season-ender for women's tennis, has been switched this year from Riyadh to Indian Wells, the women's tour announced in a statement on Wednesday. 

The event, which brings together the eight best players of the year at the end of the season in November in both singles and doubles, had been staged since 2024 in the Saudi capital and was supposed to remain there for at least three years.

The final year has been terminated by mutual consent.

"The WTA requested to move the 2026 WTA Finals to a new host location," the organisation said in an earlier joint statement. 

"The Saudi Tennis Federation accepted WTA's proposal, and the two organizations mutually agreed on the conclusion of the hosting arrangement."

Neither statement gave a reason for moving the event.

A number of high-profile sporting events in the air have been cancelled following US military strikes on Iran in February and the subsequent war in the region.  

"The saga of the WTA Finals continues," said American world no.4 Jessica Pegula. 

"It's like we can't catch a break, and I don't necessarily think it's our fault. There just tends to be a lot of world conflicts that seem to happen and get in the way."

The event will now take place in California from November 8-15.

"I'm really biased so I'm really happy it's in the U.S.," said Coco Gauff. 

"As an American player, I think it's cool. It's going to be weird going to be in Indian Wells in November."

Elena Rybakina won the 2025 event, beating Aryna Sabalenka in the final.

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© Agence France-Presse