London | Garbiñe Muguruza appointed WTA Finals Riyadh Match Director

The WTA has appointed former World No 1 Garbiñe Muguruza as Match Director of its season-ending championships in Saudi Arabia, which options the Prime 8 singles gamers and doubles groups on the PIF Race to the WTA Finals Riyadh.

I understand how particular this occasion is for our prime gamers, and I’ve additionally seen its potential to encourage communities all around the world. I’m excited to work with an ideal group to current a showcase for girls’s tennis that not solely grows tennis however encourages all followers, and particularly women and girls, to pursue their desires. Garbiñe Muguruza

Muguruza, a two-time Grand Slam champion, is the primary former participant to be named to the submit on the occasion, which she gained in 2021.

The 30-year outdated Spaniard, who was born in Venezuela and revealed final month that her skilled enjoying days are over, will begin her function with this 12 months’s version, which takes place from 2-9 November.

Muguruza will work with WTA, the Saudi Tennis Federation and the Ministry of Sport to supervise strategic planning and supply of the occasion for the following three years, 2024-26, notably working to develop the profile of tennis throughout the Center East, and play a central function in selling wholesome existence to younger folks across the area.

Because the Kingdom continues to lift its monetary funding in skilled tennis, which incorporates title sponsorship of each the ATP and WTA rankings, the Saudi Tennis Federation has stated that it needs 1 million gamers within the nation by 2030.

“I really feel very privileged to have the ability to contribute to the way forward for this nice sport as Match Director of the WTA Finals Riyadh,” Muguruza stated. “I understand how particular this occasion is for our prime gamers, and I’ve additionally seen its potential to encourage communities all around the world.

“I’m excited to work with an ideal group to current a showcase for girls’s tennis that not solely grows tennis however encourages all followers, and particularly women and girls, to pursue their desires.”

WTAtennis.com

Muguruza certified for the WTA Finals on 4 events, capturing the Billie Jean King Trophy at Guadalajara, Mexico in 2021.

Throughout her enjoying profession she gained 10 singles titles together with 2 Grand Slam trophies, at Roland-Garros in 2016 and Wimbledon in 2017, whereas she is the one participant to have defeated each Serena and Venus Williams in a serious closing.

Different notable outcomes included 3 WTA 1000 titles, the China Open in 2015, the Cincinnati Open in 2017 and the Dubai Responsibility Free Tennis Championships in 2021.

Muguruza rose to World No 1 within the rankings on 11 September, 2017, and held the highest spot for 4 weeks.

In doubles, she achieved a career-high rating of No 10 in 2015, and gained 5 titles, 3 of them alongside her compatriot Carla Suárez Navarro, with whom she reached the championship match on the WTA Finals in Singapore in 2015.

“Garbiñe is a worldwide function mannequin who understands the ability of sport to make a distinction to folks from all walks of life,” stated Steve Simon, Chairman and CEO of the WTA. “I do know she can have one of the best pursuits of our gamers at coronary heart, whereas remaining devoted to the broader targets of participation and inclusivity — values on which the WTA was based.

“She is a real champion, on and off court docket, and the proper candidate for this crucial function in what we imagine can be an exhilarating WTA Finals.”

The Spaniard joins a rising checklist of former gamers who presently maintain Match Director posts on the Hologic WTA Tour, together with Alicia Molik (Adelaide), Anke Huber (Stuttgart), Laura Robson (Nottingham), Barbara Rittner (Berlin) and Valérie Tétreault (Montréal), whereas Amélie Mauresmo took over as Match Director of Roland-Garros in 2021, and Conchita Martinez, Muguruza’s former coach, has presided over the Billie Jean King Cup Finals since final 12 months.

Muguruza might face a trickier time of issues than these others, although, in opposition to a backdrop of controversy over the WTA’s alternative of venue for its season-ending Finals.

A number of high-profile figures, together with Martina Navratilova and Chris Evert, have criticised the choice to maneuver this to Saudi Arabia, with a number of human rights teams additionally crucial of the transfer.

Present WTA stars have largely been ambivalent in the direction of the transfer, though Ons Jabeur and Jessica Pegula have brazenly supported the choice.

Judy Murray takes on the function of WTA Finals Neighborhood Ambassador to guide grassroots growth in Saudi Arabia

WTAtennis.com

Muguruza’s appointment builds on information that famend tennis coach Judy Murray, the mom of Andy and Jamie Murray, will function the WTA Finals Neighborhood Ambassador, main a sequence of grassroots-level engagements, together with visits to Saudi faculties to conduct teaching clinics and mentoring periods, whereas coaching native workforces to allow them to construct upon present tennis applications and develop new initiatives.

The WTA Finals Riyadh strikes to the Saudi Arabian capital for 2024 on a 3-year deal, and affords a file $15.25 million in prize cash.