With Saudi Arabia promising a tournament record of £1.58 million ($2 million) in prize money for the ATP’s Next Gen Finals, it is expected that the nation can also offer a lot for the WTA’s event. Previously, the WTA signed a 10-year deal to hold the Finals in Shenzhen from 2019.
The deal came with a lucrative £11m ($14m) total prize money pot to be shared out over the tournament – at the time a record for the most cash on offer to players at a single tour event. But the WTA Finals hasn’t been held in China since its inaugural year in 2019. The Covid pandemic prevented players from returning and the WTA then boycotted the nation over the whereabouts of Peng Shuai.
However, the women’s tennis tour will return to China later this year during the regular ‘Asian swing’ section of the calendar, with tournaments in Hong Kong, Beijing, Ningbo, Zhuhai, Guangzhou and Zhengzhou.