WTA SAYS NO DECISION YET ON 2024 FINALS HOST AMID REPORTED SAUDI INTEREST

The WTA is yet to decide on a venue for its 2024 season-ending Finals, the governing body of women's tennis said, amid growing speculation the championship is headed to Saudi Arabia.

Cancun was named the venue for this year's edition less than two months before it began on Oct. 29 and the Mexico event drew heavy criticism from world number two Aryna Sabalenka over the standard of organisation.

Multiple media outlets have said the Finals are set to move to Saudi Arabia and the BBC reported that negotiations were in the late stages with both parties keen on a multi-year deal.

"We are in discussions with various groups surrounding the 2024 WTA Finals and beyond and have not made any decisions at this time," a WTA spokesperson said in an email.

"As with all WTA decisions, we are working closely with players and focused on continuing to build a strong future for women's tennis."

TOP SEED SABALENKA KNOCKS RYBAKINA OUT OF WTA FINALS

USA TODAY Sports 

Aryna Sabalenka outlasted Elena Rybakina 6-2 3-6 6-3 to reach the WTA Finals last four in a win-or-bust group match on Friday that was halted on Thursday due to stormy weather in Cancun.

Under bright sunshine but still unrelenting winds, world number one Sabalenka unleashed an ace out wide on match point to send fourth seed Rybakina packing from the year-end tournament.

"I didn't really think a lot about this match," Sabalenka told Tennis Channel. "I was just like, whatever. I'm going to go out there and do everything I can and if I win, I win and if I lose, I go home on vacation," she said with a laugh.

"I was just trying to play as good as I can."

Belarusian Sabalenka joins American group winner Jessica Pegula in the semi-finals of the event between the world's top eight players. Kazakhstan's Rybakina and eighth-seeded Greek Maria Sakkari were eliminated from the group stage.

SABALENKA VS. RYBAKINA WTA FINALS SUSPENDED UNTIL FRIDAYDUE TO RAIN

Sabalenka. Reuters 

World number one Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus grabbed a 6-2 3-5 lead over fourth-ranked Elena Rybakina and boosted her chances of securing a semi-final berth at the WTA Finals in Cancun before play was suspended due to rain on Thursday night.

Sabalenka, who powered past Greek Maria Sakkari but lost to Jessica Pegula, put on a dominant performance in the first set against the big-serving Kazakh as rain caused multiple interruptions in what was a rematch of the Australian Open final.

GAUFF 'FEELIMG THE LOVE' IN CANCUN AFTER MAIDEN WTA FINALS

USA TODAY Sports 

U.S. Open champion Coco Gauff said she was "feeling the love" in rainy Cancun after her 6-0 6-1 demolition of Ons Jabeur in her first group stage match of the WTA Finals on Monday.

The start of the match was delayed and then later interrupted by rain when Gauff was leading 1-0 in the second set. She maintained her momentum when play resumed to claim a dominant win over her Tunisian Group B opponent.

WTA FINALS TO BE HELD IN CANCUN

Reuters 

The 2023 edition of the WTA Finals will be held in Cancun, Mexico from Oct. 29-Nov. 5 under a one-year agreement, the women's tennis body announced on Thursday, ending speculation that this year's event could be held in Saudi Arabia.

The season-ending tournament, which features the top eight singles players and doubles teams, returns to Mexico after one year, with the 2021 edition taking place in Guadalajara.