After a massive backlash about possibly hosting the WTA Finals in Saudi Arabia, the WTA is reportedly looking at finding a permanent solution for the WTA Finals.
Saudi Arabia has been courting a top tennis event for a while, and the WTA Finals have been floated as a possible event. After the country hosted top players Aryna Sabalenka and Ons Jabeur late last year, the duo endorsed a future event there.
They're not the only ones. Several top names have already shown a willingness to play in the country, even though some very prominent voices are against it. Former players Martina Navratilova and Chris Evert both came out against it, as did many fans.
The news of the WTA Finals being held there didn't go well with many, so the latest reports from Sports Business Journal are suggesting that the WTA is looking at a more permanent solution to an event that has been changing venues in recent years.
According to those reports, Charlotte has been named a potential place for the WTA Finals, with the alleged deal in the discussion being from 2027 onwards. There are large-scale renovations in the Spectrum Centre, which was proposed as the hosting site.
The report also indicates that the event will likely be permanently set in one place for the next three years, with Charlotte possibly taking over from 2027 onward. So, in essence, it is still possible that the event would end up in Saudi Arabia, though it likely wouldn't be moving there long-term.
Obviously, all of this is speculation; nothing is confirmed, and none of this might come true. Eventually, we'll have to wait and see, but there has been a pretty strong push from the tennis community against any kind of involvement with Saudi Arabia. Regardless of the outcome, there will likely be a lot of broken hearts in the coming years.
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