RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s King Saud University Indoor Arena, newly prepared to host the upcoming WTA Finals from Nov. 2-9, is set to welcome the world’s top women tennis players in a historic first for the Kingdom.

At its heart is a meticulously crafted center court, completed in just five days, with a wooden base layered in acrylic to provide an optimal playing surface. Unique to this year’s setup are three full-size practice courts — an uncommon feature in WTA Finals venues — allowing players the flexibility to train whenever they need.

Garbine Muguruza, serving as tournament director for the first time, shared her enthusiasm with Arab News about the distinctiveness of the facilities.

“With these three practice courts, players can train whenever they want, a flexibility that adds a new dimension to their preparation,” she said, noting the positive response from athletes who have already arrived.

“The players are excited to experience not only the courts but also the warmth and hospitality of the Kingdom, which has set a welcoming tone for the event.”

Supporting the main facilities, the arena includes individual locker rooms, a dedicated players’ lounge, and a dining hall, all designed to provide a seamless experience for athletes and teams.

Saudi Tennis Federation President Areej Mutabagani expressed her excitement for what this event means for Saudi youth, especially young women.

“To see top players like Aryna Sabalenka competing here can inspire young people to consider tennis as both a sport and a pathway to self-confidence and growth,” she explained, noting that the federation’s larger vision is to see sports become a powerful tool for development and empowerment across Saudi Arabia.

The WTA Finals will feature the top eight players in both singles and doubles, bringing a premier level of competition to Riyadh. Beyond the matches themselves, the event includes community outreach programs to engage Saudi youth, familiarize them with tennis, and create opportunities to meet their role models.

Muguruza highlighted the potential of these initiatives to drive a new generation of athletes: “Seeing these players up close can be life-changing, especially for young girls who might not have envisioned themselves in sports before.”

The WTA Finals mark the beginning of a three-year partnership between the Saudi Tennis Federation and the WTA, supporting the federation’s aim to attract 1 million Saudis to engage in tennis by 2030.

Local talents, including young players like Dania Alzuhair and Tala Ashoor, were among the first to try out the new courts, symbolizing the next generation of Saudi tennis.

“This isn’t just a tournament; it’s a pivotal step in building a sports culture that empowers and uplifts our youth,” Mutabagani noted, emphasizing how the WTA Finals are a key part of Vision 2030’s broader focus on youth development and sports inclusion.

As Saudi Arabia prepares to welcome fans and top athletes, the tournament is set to be not only a sporting event but a milestone that promises to shape the future of tennis in the Kingdom and inspire young Saudis to pursue their passions with confidence and ambition.

TOKYO: Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen won the Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo on Sunday for her third title of the year, beating Sofia Kenin 7-6 (7/5), 6-3 in the final.

China’s Zheng, the tournament’s top seed, kept her cool to edge a tight first set despite two rain delays, before pressing home her advantage to take the second comfortably.

The win extended world No. 7 Zheng’s impressive run of form this year after she became the first Chinese player to win an Olympic singles tennis gold when she triumphed in Paris.

She also won in Palermo and finished runner-up in Wuhan and at the Australian Open.

Kenin, the 2020 Australian Open champion, was in doubt after retiring from her doubles semifinal on Saturday with a leg injury.

The American played the final with heavy strapping on her upper leg but showed no outward signs of discomfort.

It was world No. 155 Kenin’s first final of 2024.

She was looking to end a title drought that stretches back more than four years.

Neither player was allowed to get into a rhythm early in the match as rain twice brought play to a halt in Tokyo.

The roof was eventually closed and Zheng edged ahead with the slimmest of margins to take the first set in a tiebreak.

Backed by a large contingent of Chinese fans, the 22-year-old took control of the second set early.

She hit a total of 16 aces in the match and closed it out when Kenin hit a return long.