Tennis podcast host Craig Shapiro has announced that sources have told him the WTA Finals will be moved to Saudi Arabia and that ATP Newport will lose its tournament.

Saudi Arabia has gradually started to increase their influence in the tennis world. It was announced earlier this year that the ATP Next Gen Finals will be moved to Jeddah, a Saudi Arabian port city, until 2027.

Shortly afterward, it was announced that Saudi Arabian officials were in talks to move the United Cup from Australia to their country. This comes after the Diriyah Tennis Cup, an exhibition event, took place in Saudi Arabia last December and featured top tennis stars such as Alexander Zverev, Daniil Medvedev, Nick Kyrgios, Andrey Rublev and Dominic Thiem.

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Shapiro suggests further Saudi influence

In a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, Shapiro revealed that the WTA Finals will be played in Saudi Arabia's capital city Riyadh. This is presumably in 2024, as the 2023 tournament is already scheduled to take place in China in October.

"Sources telling me announcement next week that WTA Finals will be played in Riyadh. saudi arabia," Shapiro wrote.

Moreover, he added that the license for the ATP Hall of Fame Open, held each year at the International Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport, Rhode Island, is up for sale, and that he thinks Saudi officials will buy it and along with ATP chairman Andrea Gaudenzi, will remove the tournament and simply keep the induction of Hall of Famers.

"Newport ATP license is up for sale, Saudis will buy it, and Gaudenzi will move to more advantageous date.induction will remain, just no tournament," he added.

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Players divided on Saudi Arabian involvement

Over recent months, several players have expressed their opinions on increased Saudi Arabian involvement in the sport. Kyrgios, who played at the exhibition event in Diriyah, posted his approval, tweeting:

"Finally. They see the value. We are going to get paid what we deserve to get paid. Sign me up."

Moreover, tennis legend Billie-Jean King and world No. 5 Ons Jabeur have both supported talks with Saudi Arabia.

However, others such as tennis star John McEnroe and world No. 13 Daria Kasatkina have disagreed. The American said he "wouldn’t encourage it", while Kasatkina reacted to Kyrgios' approval of Saudi involvement by referencing part of the countries' poor human rights record, which ranges from mass executions to restricting women's freedoms.

"It’s easier for men because they feel pretty good there. We don’t feel the same way. As Nick Kyrgios said, he’d be so happy to go there for a big check. For me, money is not my number one priority," she said.