Better late than never: WTA to play in Cancun

The WTA Finals will be held in Cancun after the Mexican venue was chosen as a safe haven amid controversy that the year-ender might be staged in cash-rich Saudi.

Tour officials announced the call on Thursday as the US Open reached a climax.

Reports circulating in recent days had suggested that accepting Middle East millions might not be the wisest choice given the Saudi human rights record and behind-the-scenes misgivings.

The event featuring the eight best players from 2023 from  will run from October 29 to November 5 in the Mexican Caribbean resort.

The hurried decision comes less than two months before the start of play and also eliminated a solid multi-year bid from the Czech federation.

The WTA has been taking relentless heat ever since the suggestion surfaced that Saudi might be in the hosting mix; the country has already managed to secure the ATP’s NextGen Finals for this November

“I would like to extend my appreciation to the Cancun tournament organisers for their commitment in hosting the WTA Finals this year,” WTA boss Steve Simon said.

Bill Scott

Recent Posts

Halep seething over Swiatek wrist-slap doping penalty

Doping sanction victim Simona Halep has gone online to protest her own treatment by anti-doping…

3 weeks ago

Nadal goes down in final match

Rafael Nadal lined up for what was to be the final match of his career…

1 month ago

Sinner flattens de Minaur in runaway home start

Jannik Sinner took charge in front of his home crowd on Sunday, crushing ATP Finals…

1 month ago

Madcap Medvedev suffers temperamental Turin Finals loss

Daniil Medvedev went into meltdown mode on Sunday during a highly charged 6-4, 6-3 loss, with opponent…

1 month ago

Team Sinner considering skipping Monte Carlo

Jannik Sinner could well be missing from the opening European clay event of next season…

1 month ago

Davis Cup Final to mark Nadal goodbye to tennis

Rafael Nadal will bring down the curtain on his career next month as he plays his…

2 months ago