The Saudi Tennis Federation (STF) has announced its ambition to inspire one million into tennis by 2030 as the countdown to the WTA Finals in Riyadh gets underway.

The announcement was made at the official launch ceremony of the WTA Finals Riyadh on Wednesday.  Along with the Ministry of Sport in Saudi Arabia and WTA, organizers also unveiled the new logo for the event, which features the world’s top female players in the prestigious end -of- year championship.

The WTA Finals Riyadh is a key element of the STF’s plans to inspire growth and participation in tennis across Saudi Arabia, and it is the latest international sports event to take place in the country.  Over 100 events have been staged since 2018, with 2.6 million fans welcomed, as the Ministry of Sport aims to inspire Saudis to get active and lead healthy lifestyles.

Arij Mutabagani, President of the Saudi Tennis Federation, said: “The opportunity that this prestigious event will provide in Saudi Arabia is incredible and we are honored to be partnering with the WTA to bring this elite tournament to Riyadh at the start of an exciting journey.

“It’s important the world sees that our tennis ambitions go far beyond hosting. We want to get on court and play. We want to inspire our people to fall in love with the game, to compete, to create new growth and connect to the sport globally. That’s why our pledge is important as we want to get rackets in hands in our communities and schools so that many first steps are taken as a result of the tournament.

“For us, seeing is believing and with our aim to inspire 1 million into tennis by 2030, this event promises to deliver both impact and legacy. And I am confident that this partnership with the WTA will be a game changing experience for the sport in our country.” 

During the ceremony, the Ministry of Sports and Saudi Tennis Federation welcomed the new WTA Finals Tournament Director, Garbiñe Muguruza ,and WTA Finals Community Ambassador, Judy Murray back to the Kingdom.

Within the WTA’s landmark visit, Murray and Muguruza participated in the first of a series of nation-wide tennis clinics, working with over 30 young tennis talents from Riyadh to perfect their technique.

Set to take place between 2-9 November, the 2024 season-ending WTA Finals will see the top 8 singles players and doubles teams compete for a record prize pool to conclude the year at King Saud University in Riyadh.

Steve Simon, WTA Chairman and CEO, added: “Bringing the WTA Finals as the first professional women’s tennis tournament in Saudi Arabia is an exciting moment for the WTA and our sport.

This event allows the women’s game to complement the commitment to the growth of tennis in the Kingdom through inspiring new players and fans in the region, as they witness top- level women’s tennis for the first time.

The agreement between the WTA and the Saudi Tennis Federation will see the event take place in the Kingdom’s capital for the next three years, as organizers begin the countdown towards the 2024 event.

The partnership between STF and WTA will see investment across the game in Saudi Arabia and beyond, featuring as part of the nation’s Vision 2030 strategy to inspire the youthful population of Saudi Arabia through sport.