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Jeddah - Yasmine El Tohamy - Saudi Tennis Federation aims to inspire a million players when Riyadh hosts 2024 WTA Finals
RIYADH: The Saudi Tennis Federation on Wednesday revealed ambitious plans to ignite a passion for tennis among 1 million people in the Kingdom by 2030.
It came as the STF, in collaboration with the Saudi Ministry of Sport and the Women’s Tennis Association, revealed the logo for the 2024 WTA Finals during the official launch ceremony for the event. The competition will take place in Riyadh from Nov. 2 to 9 at King Saud University and feature the world’s top eight singles players and doubles teams.
Arij Mutabagani, the president of the STF, said: “Hosting the WTA Finals in Saudi Arabia is a dream come true, offering our aspiring tennis players, both boys and girls, the chance to witness world-class athletes firsthand.”
Describing the federation’s ambitious plans for hosting the event she added: “We are working closely with the WTA and Judy Murray to expand tennis programs in schools, develop coaches and officials, nurture talent from grassroots levels, and enhance the overall tennis ecosystem.”
Reflecting on the personal significance of this milestone for tennis in the Kingdom, Mutabagani said: “For me, playing tennis as a child and rising to this position today is truly a dream come true. Witnessing the rapid development in sports that has brought us to this achievement is beyond what I could have imagined. Leading the federation to this point fills me with immense joy and pride.”
The launch on Wednesday marked the first visit to the Kingdom by the event’s newly appointed tournament director, Garbine Muguruza, and its community ambassador, Judy Murray. It will be followed by a series of nationwide tennis clinics to help develop and enhance local talent and broaden the appeal of the sport in the country.
Tennis is growing increasingly popular among a Saudi population in which 20 million people are under the age of 30. The STF’s “Tennis for All” initiative aims to introduce 60,000 young people to the sport in schools nationwide, as part of efforts to achieve the ambitious goal of turning 1 million people into tennis fans by 2030.
Steve Simon, the chair and CEO of the WTA, hailed the upcoming finals in Riyadh as a significant moment for women’s tennis.
“Bringing the WTA Finals to Saudi Arabia marks an exciting milestone for our sport, inspiring new players and fans in the region with top-level women’s tennis,” he said.
“This event allows the women’s game to complement the commitment to the growth of tennis in the Kingdom through inspiring new players and fans in the region, as they experience top-level women’s tennis for the first time.
“Alongside our Saudi Tennis Federation partners, we are counting down the days until the world’s best players descend on Riyadh for what we believe will be a thrilling season-ending finale.”
The three-year partnership between the WTA and STF is in line with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030, national development and diversification plan, to leverage sports in an effort to engage with the nation’s youth and foster community development.
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