News_Muguruza Named Tournament Director of the Riyadh WTA Finals

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – The Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) today announced that former World No. 1 Garbiñe Muguruza will serve as Tournament Director of the Riyadh WTA Finals. The WTA Finals is the season-ending event on the Hologic WTA Tour, and the 30-year-old Spaniard won the title at the 2021 WTA Finals. She becomes the first former player to take on the role of Tournament Director for the WTA Finals.

Muguruza won the WTA Finals singles title in 2021

The 2023 WTA Finals will be held from November 2-9. The top 8 singles players and 8 doubles teams on the PIF Road to the WTA Finals leaderboard will qualify for the WTA Finals. Muguruza will work alongside the WTA, the Saudi Tennis Federation, and the Ministry of Sports to oversee the strategic planning and execution of the event over the next three years (2024-2026). A key focus for Muguruza will be to increase tennis awareness in the Middle East and promote healthy lifestyles for young people in the region.

“I am honored to continue contributing to this great sport as Tournament Director of the Riyadh WTA Finals,” said Muguruza. “I know how special the Finals are for the top players, and I see its potential to inspire communities worldwide. I’m excited to collaborate with an exceptional team to deliver outstanding women’s tennis events, drive the growth of the game, and inspire all fans, especially women, to pursue their dreams.”

Muguruza has qualified for the WTA Finals four times in her career, lifting the Billie Jean King Trophy in Guadalajara, Mexico, in 2021. She has claimed 10 singles titles, including Grand Slam triumphs at the 2016 French Open and 2017 Wimbledon, making her the only player to defeat both Serena Williams (2016 Roland Garros) and Venus Williams (2017 Wimbledon) en route to major titles. Her other notable achievements include winning WTA 1000 titles in Beijing 2015, Cincinnati 2017, and Dubai 2021.

Muguruza ascended to World No. 1 in singles on September 11, 2017, holding the top spot for four weeks. In doubles, she reached a high of World No. 10 in 2015 and captured five doubles titles, three of which were alongside Carla Suárez Navarro. The pair also reached the final of the 2015 WTA Finals in Singapore.

“Garbiñe is a global role model who understands the power of sports to make a positive impact on people from all walks of life,” said WTA Chairman and CEO Steve Simon. “I know she will keep the interests of the players at heart while advancing the values of inclusion and participation that the WTA stands for. She is a true champion both on and off the court and the perfect fit for this critical role. We look forward to an exciting WTA Finals under her leadership.”

A growing number of former athletes are taking on tournament director roles on the Hologic WTA Tour, including Mauresmo (Roland Garros), Martinez (Billie Jean King Cup), Morikawa (Adelaide), Huber (Stuttgart), Robson (Nottingham), Rittner (Berlin), and Taeteriot (Montreal).

As the WTA Finals Community Ambassador, Judy Murray, the mother of ATP stars Andy and Jamie Murray, will lead a series of interactive tennis initiatives for the public, including coaching sessions and workshops in Saudi Arabian schools, training local coaches to develop and expand existing and new programs.

The Saudi Tennis Federation has announced a goal to inspire one million people to participate in tennis by 2030.