Coco Gauff ‘Really Happy’ as WTA Finals Move from Riyadh to Indian Wells: “I’m Biased’

The WTA Finals this season will not be held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Instead, it will be held in Indian Wells, United States. The two organizations, the WTA and the Saudi Tennis Federation, mutually agreed to end the deal early. Initially, they had signed a three-year deal in 2024.

At present, the tennis world is focusing on Wimbledon, which got underway on June 29. Coco Gauff, who is bidding to reach the quarterfinals here for the first time, was asked at the press conference after her second-round win (over Solana Sierra) about what she thinks of the WTA Finals’ relocation.

I’m really biased, so I’m really happy it’s in the U.S. As an American player, I think it’s cool. It’s gonna be weird being at Indian Wells in November. I’m very curious if we’re gonna be playing in the day, night. I hope day because I feel like it’s gonna be a little chilly at night.

Indian Wells also hosts a combined ATP and WTA 1000 tournament. This year, ATP World No.1 Jannik Sinner and WTA World No.1 Aryna Sabalenka, after winning in the California desert, completed the Sunshine Double in their respective categories.

Gauff won the WTA Finals in 2024 by defeating Paris Olympics champion Qinwen Zheng. But last year, she failed to qualify for the semifinals after her defeats to eventual runner-up Sabalenka and Jessica Pegula in the round-robin stage.

Obviously, I had a great memory in Saudi playing and winning my title there two years ago. We had a warm reception from them. It was really cool just to bring… I think it was the first women’s professional tennis event held there. So it was really cool to bring our sport to a different demographic who hasn’t experienced it before.

Coco Gauff added

The WTA Finals this year will be held from November 8 to November 15. Last year in the year-end championships, Elena Rybakina beat Sabalenka and pocketed a record $5.235 million in prize money for going unbeaten.

It was the biggest prize money given to a tennis champion for winning an official tournament (male or female). Six Kings Slam, an exhibition event in Riyadh, still awards a record $6 million to its champion. Sinner pocketed the prize money in 2024 and 2025 by defeating arch-rival Carlos Alcaraz both times.

Coco Gauff on Serena Williams’ first-round match at Wimbledon

Serena Williams played her first singles match after four years at this Wimbledon. Up against her was Maya Joint, who took the first set off the tennis legend but lost the second-set tie-breaker before eventually ending the match in her favor.

Coco Gauff, who grew up watching her idol win at SW19, said that Williams’s once again competing on the tour was a beautiful moment for the sport. Gauff said at the press conference:

I watched almost the entire match. I even had to finish dinner early to be able to watch it. I think Serena played incredible tennis. Maya had a top-10 or top-5 level match; she was fantastic and ready for an occasion like that. But what Serena did seems crazy to me. It shows once again why she is the best in history.

The two-time Grand Slam singles champion will next be facing countrywoman Claire Liu. Wimbledon is the only Major where the 22-year-old has never made it past the fourth round.

Williams, a seven-time champion in singles at the grass-court Major, is competing in doubles with sister Venus Williams. The Williams sisters, winners of 14 Grand Slam doubles titles, will face Solana Sierra and Camila Osorio in the first round.

Also read: Watching Idol Serena Williams Play Singles Again at Wimbledon Made Naomi Osaka ‘Really Emotional’