CHARLOTTE — Charlotte has welcomed some of the top names in tennis for the past two years and has proven it can handle big events.
One of the biggest events in the sport could be coming to the Queen City in 2027, the WTA Finals.
Well-respected tennis journalist Ben Rothenberg first reported the news in his newsletter, Bounces. The WTA Finals are expected to leave Saudi Arabia after this year’s tournament.
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Charlotte tennis legend Don Keistler, of Don’s Tennis, has 50 years of experience running a tennis store in the Queen City.
He said Charlotte is the perfect host city for the Women’s Tennis Association Finals and is excited about the prospect.
“I think it would fill up the place and truly get more people into tennis,” he said.
The WTA Finals is the sport’s signature year-end championship event. WTA officials recently visited the Spectrum Center, and the Charlotte Sports Foundation is courting the tournament.
“Charlotte is growing as a sports city, right on the international stage,” Charlotte City Council Member Dante Anderson said.
Charlotte City Council Member Dante Anderson said the past two years of the Charlotte Invitational show the Queen City is a great fit for this event.
She said the city has a great case because of the renovations to the Spectrum Center and all of the flights into and out of the Charlotte Douglas International Airport.
Polish media reports the WTA Finals are either coming to Charlotte or Gdansk, Poland.
“I haven’t been there before, but I think we can definitely take them on,” Anderson said.
The WTA says no decisions have been made yet on the new home for this world-class global event.
In a statement, the organization said:
“We have an incredible opportunity to bring the WTA Finals, a world-class, premium global event showcasing the best in women’s tennis, to a new home. This is a historic moment in women’s sports, and we are having conversations around the globe with potential partners. No decisions have been made yet about a location for the 2027 Finals, but as with all decisions regarding the future of the WTA, we are working closely with players and focused on continuing to build a strong future for women’s tennis.”
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