‘Wimbledon of the Desert’ – Saudi unveils plans for world-class tennis centre
Saudi Arabian authorities have unveiled plans to build a National Tennis Centre in the desert that is heavily modeled after the All England Lawn Tennis Club, popularly known as Wimbledon.
The announcement was made on Monday by Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Faisal, the Saudi sports minister and president of its Olympic and Paralympic committee, who disclosed that the facility, dubbed the “Wimbledon of the desert,” features iconic green and purple color schemes, grass-look exteriors, and a 15,000-seat Centre Court with a retractable roof.
He added that the facility, which is designed for climate control, is part of the broader Qiddiya giga-project, a massive entertainment and sports hub being developed near Riyadh.
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Al-Faisal said, “The centre has the necessary capabilities to host major tournaments and elite players, having been built according to the highest international specifications and standards.
“This reflects the commitment to developing the tennis ecosystem in the kingdom, as with other sports, by enhancing infrastructure and programmes that support the scouting and development of Saudi talent.
“These efforts help guide players from the amateur stage to professionalism while contributing to the achievement of the sports objectives of Saudi Vision 2030.”
The concept serves as the country’s latest massive investment into the sport, following its hosting of top-tier tournaments like the 6 Kings Slam and ongoing discussions for the WTA Finals.
