WTA season final to be held in Fort Worth, Texas

The Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) has announced their 2022 season-ending tournament will be held at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas, from October 31 to November 7.

The year-end tournament in Texas marks the first time since 2005 the WTA Finals has been held in the United States.

“The Dickies Arena and the city of Fort Worth has a proven track record of hosting world class sporting and entertainment events,” said Steve Simon, WTA Chairman and CEO.

“We are excited to bring the WTA’s showpiece tournament back to the United States for the first time since 2005.”

After the U.S. Open, the WTA will then host a 500-level tournament in San Diego and a 125-level tournament in Midland, Michigan.

The 14,000 seat multi-purpose arena which opened in 2019 is located about 30 miles west of Dallas. The arena has hosted the U.S. Gymnastics Championships, and the first and second rounds of the N.C.A.A. men’s basketball tournaments amongst other notable events.

The WTA noted the event is “expected to return” to China in 2023. The 2021 Championship had to be relocated to the city of Guadalajara, Mexico after it was forced to leave China due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The WTA is in its fourth season of a 10-year deal with the city of Shenzhen, to host the organization’s season ending tournament.

However the recent controversy over sexual allegations from Peng Shuai levied against a former government official has put the WTA’s relationship with China on shaky ground and may threaten the tennis organization’s return.

In an statement this week, a WTA spokeswoman said the organization “continues to work towards a resolution in China and are hopeful we will be in a position to operate events in the region in 2023 and beyond but will not compromise our founding principles in order to do so.”

Steve Simon, the WTA chairman, has not minced words and remains steadfast on their support of Shuai.

“If powerful people can suppress the voices of women and sweep allegations of sexual assault under the rug, then the basis on which the WTA was founded — equality for women — would suffer an immense setback. I will not and cannot let that happen to the WTA and its players.”