The WTA, the organiser of the top women's tennis tour, has announced today that 2021’s season-ending WTA Finals will be held in Guadalajara, Mexico, the week of 8 November.
The one-year agreement, arranged with help from Octagon, the international sports marketing agency with which the WTA is partnered, follows the cancellation in July of the Asian series of its tournaments for the second successive year as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.
The WTA Finals tournament, competed by the top eight singles players and top eight doubles teams, was also cancelled last year, having been scheduled to be played in Shenzhen, China, annually from 2019 to 2028.
The Finals had remained on the calendar this year but with a question mark about whether it would be played in the Asian country.
As part of today’s announcement, the WTA has confirmed the intention for the tournament to return to Shenzhen next year and the extension of the city’s host status until 2030.
Steve Simon, chairman and chief executive of the WTA, said: "I would like to extend my appreciation to the Guadalajara tournament organisers and Octagon for their commitment in hosting the event this season and for helping the WTA write another exciting chapter in WTA Finals history. We are excited to bring our showpiece tournament to the exciting and vibrant city of Guadalajara in this unique year.
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By GlobalData"I would also like to express my gratitude to the Gemdale Corporation in Shenzhen for their cooperation and resilience, and we look forward to returning in 2022 to enjoy the WTA Finals over the next decade."
Eddy Liu, co-tournament director of the WTA Finals Shenzhen and chief executive of event promoter Gemdale Sports, added: "Shenzhen remains honoured and committed to the Shiseido WTA Finals Shenzhen and we look forward to welcoming the event back to China in 2022 to build upon the legacy after its first historic staging in 2019."