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Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus celebrates a point against McCartney Kessler of the United States in their second round women’s singles match, at Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Wednesday, July 1, 2026.<\/p>\n
Kin Cheung\/AP Photo\/Kin Cheung<\/p>\n
Coco Gauff of the United States plays a forehand against Solana Sierra of Argentina in their second round women’s singles match at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Wednesday, July 1, 2026.<\/p>\n
Kin Cheung\/AP Photo\/Kin Cheung<\/p>\n
Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan eyes the ball as she prepares to return it to Lois Boisson of France in their first round women’s singles match at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Tuesday, June 30, 2026.<\/p>\n
Kirsty Wigglesworth\/AP Photo\/Kirsty Wigglesworth<\/p>\n
Mirra Andreeva of Russia celebrates winning her match against Magda Linette of Poland in the first round women’s singles, at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Monday, June 29, 2026.<\/p>\n
Maja Smiejkowska\/AP Photo\/Maja Smiejkowska<\/p>\n
LONDON (AP) \u2014 The WTA Finals, the elite season-ending event in women\u2019s tennis, is moving from Saudi Arabia to Indian Wells, California, this year.<\/p>\n
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The 2026 finals, which the top eight singles players and doubles teams qualify for, are scheduled for Nov. 8-15.<\/p>\n
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The women\u2019s professional tennis tour and Saudi Arabia had signed a three-year deal in 2024 to stage the event in Riyadh. The agreement provided a big increase in prize money.<\/p>\n
\u201cFollowing two impactful years of the WTA Finals in Riyadh, the WTA requested to move the 2026 WTA Finals to a new host location,\u201d the women\u2019s tour said. \u201cThe Saudi Tennis Federation accepted WTA\u2019s proposal, and the two organizations mutually agreed on the conclusion of the hosting arrangement and remain proud of the achievements realized through their partnership.\u201d<\/p>\n
There were concerns about going back to Saudi Arabia due to military conflicts in the Middle East.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe saga of the WTA Finals continues,” fourth-ranked Jessica Pegula said at Wimbledon. \u201cIt\u2019s like we can\u2019t catch a break, and I don\u2019t necessarily think it\u2019s our fault. There just tends to be a lot of world conflicts that seem to happen and get in the way.<\/p>\n
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\u201cIt’s unfortunate we couldn\u2019t quite end in Riyadh on a good note,\u201d she continued. “But, you know, things happen. So I think we just kind of have to go along with that decision. Hopefully I can be there in November.<\/p>\n
Indian Wells also hosts the BNP Paribas Open for both men and women in March.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Indian Wells Tennis Garden provides an exceptional stage for the WTA Finals,\u201d WTA chair Valerie Camillo said. \u201cFrom its world-class facilities and passionate fan base to its proven ability to deliver premier tennis events, the venue offers everything needed to showcase the very best of women\u2019s tennis.\u201d<\/p>\n
Elena Rybakina beat Aryna Sabalenka in the championship match of last year’s finals.<\/p>\n
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Rybakina collected $5.23 million after going 5-0 at the event. The WTA said that was the largest payout in the history of women\u2019s sports. Sabalenka earned $2.7 million as runner-up.<\/p>\n
Prize money for this year was not announced.<\/p>\n
Indian Wells will mark the seventh different venue for the finals since 2018.<\/p>\n
\u201cDefinitely would like to see a more permanent home for it,\u201d seventh-ranked Coco Gauff said at Wimbledon. \u201cDon\u2019t know how long it\u2019s going to be in Indian Wells. I\u2019m assuming just this year. But hopefully eventually we can find, wherever it is, a more permanent home.\u201d<\/p>\n
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Gauff welcomed the move to the U.S.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s going to be weird going to be in Indian Wells in November,” she said. \u201cI\u2019m very curious if we\u2019re going to be playing in the night (or) day. I hope the day because I feel like it\u2019s going to be a little chilly at night.\u201d<\/p>\n
Gauff won the 2024 finals in Riyadh.<\/p>\n
\u201cI have a great memory in Saudi, playing and winning my title there two years ago. We had a warm reception from them,\u201d Gauff said. \u201cIt was the first women\u2019s professional tennis event being held there, so it was really cool just to bring a different demographic.\u201d<\/p>\n
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