Sabalenka loves playing in Saudi Arabia: “I cannot wait to get back”

October 27, 2025

World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka was the first player to qualify for the 2025 WTA Finals Riyadh, and she’s “super excited” to return to Saudi Arabia for the season-ending event.

Thanks to another outstanding season that saw her lead the PIF WTA Rankings throughout, Sabalenka earned her place by winning four titles, including her second US Open crown, and reaching two more Grand Slam finals. This will mark her fifth consecutive appearance at the prestigious year-end tournament.

Although Saudi Arabia’s hosting of WTA events initially drew debate and criticism, the Belarusian says her own experiences in the Kingdom have been entirely positive.

“I cannot wait to get back,” said Sabalenka ahead of the November 1-8 WTA Finals. “I love that place, I love to play there, and I hope that this year I can do better than I did last year.”

The 27-year-old, who reached the semifinals last year in Riyadh, can’t wait to discover more of Saudi Arabia’s capital:

“I’m super excited; I’ve got places to go! There was a Japanese restaurant [last year] which was really great. I love staying in the hotel, I really enjoyed my time there and I’m excited to come back.”

When asked about her highlights from 2024, Sabalenka admitted her favorite moments came off the court: “Going shopping was cool, also visiting our friend’s restaurant was really great, the food was amazing. I didn’t play my best, but my highlights were away from the court.”

Saudi Arabia’s growing tennis ambitions

Hosting the WTA Finals in Riyadh is part of the Saudi Tennis Federation’s broader vision to inspire one million people to take up tennis by 2030. Since 2019, the number of registered players has risen by 46%, and in 2024 alone, the Federation staged 77 domestic tournaments, alongside major international events like the WTA Finals Riyadh and the ATP Next Gen Finals presented by PIF in Jeddah.

Sabalenka says she’s amazed by the country’s rapid sporting development and proud to contribute to its transformation.

“It’s incredible what they’re doing for the sport and bringing all the biggest sports, and biggest athletes in the world to Saudi. Saudi is incredible, the project is insane, and I’m really grateful [to be part of it].

“I’m happy to be that inspiration for the next generation there. I think kids are super excited about sport, and you can feel it through the support they’re giving. It’s incredible to help them to build sport there.”