Games, Sets, Matches: WTA Finals Will Play In Cancún, China Open Returns

By Barry Janoff

September 7, 2023: Calling it an “exciting new chapter,” the Hologic WTA Tour today said Cancún, Mexico would host the 2023 season-ending WTA Finals, a first for the city.

Scheduled for Oct. 29-Nov. 5, the WTA year-end finale features the Top 8 singles players and doubles teams in the Race to the WTA Finals.

Total prize money is $9 million.

Tournament organizer is GS Sports Management.

The 2022 WTA Finals were held in Ft. Worth, TX, won by Caroline Gaarcia.

“This edition of the WTA Finals will provide a fantastic experience for players and fans alike, offer a fitting finale for the 2023 Hologic WTA Tour and enable us to continue building a strong future for women’s tennis,” Steve Simon, WTA chairman and CEO, said via the organization. 

According to the WTA, “Venue and partnership choices are based on multiple factors including player logistics, travel accessibility, venue capacity and a commitment to supporting and showcasing women’s tennis.

“GS Sports Management has a proven track record in professional tennis, serving as the promoters of a span of WTA tournaments, including the highly successful 2021 WTA Finals in Guadalajara as well as the WTA 1000 Guadalajara, WTA 250 Merida and WTA 125 San Luis.

“These events have provided fans the opportunity to see world-class tennis and the best athletes in the world, while providing a platform to promote professional tennis in Latin America.”

“After the success of the WTA Finals in Guadalajara in 2021, we are now thrilled to bring this prestigious event to Cancun in 2023,” Gustavo Santoscoy Arriaga and Gustavo Santoscoy Garcia of GS Sports Management said via the firm.

“Cancun is a magnificent destination, and we’re eager for the tennis world to experience its beauty, It’s an exciting new chapter for us and for tennis enthusiasts everywhere.”

WTA also said all of the top 30 players and 47 of the Top 50 are scheduled to play in the China Open in Beijing, the final WTA Masters 1000 event of the season (Sept. 30-Oct. 8). Total prize money is $8.127 million.

The WTA has not played the China Open since 2019 due to COVID-19 and then withdrawing the event from its calendar due to concerns over the safety of WTA member Peng Shuai.

Naomi Osaka, who is planning to return from maternity leave in 2024, will not defend her title from 2019.

The absentees are Danielle Collins, Lauren Davis, and Paula Badosa, who recently announced that she was ending her season due to a back injury.

The men’s ATP Tour will also play at the China Open but as a Masters 500 event.

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