WTA Chennai Open to be moved to Manila next year
The WTA 250 Chennai Open will move to Manila, Philippines, starting next year to capitalize on the growing popularity of tennis star Alexandra Eala. The tournament will continue to be held in Chennai this November before the relocation takes effect in 2027.
Why it matters
This shift highlights the influence of individual star athletes on the global geography of professional sports events and regional market expansion.
The WTA 250 Chennai Open, the country’s only top-tier tennis tournament, will be held from November 2 to 8 at the SDAT Stadium in Nungambakkam. However, next year, in the same slot, it will be replaced with a first-ever tour-level event in the Philippines as various stakeholders look to capitalise on the rapidly growing fanbase of the 21-year-old Alexandra Eala, currently ranked 18th in the world.
Along with the return of a WTA 125 event, held for the first time in the Philippines in January this season, a WTA 250 tournament will make its debut in Manila in late 2027 and is scheduled from November 1 to 7.
Chennai played host to a WTA 250 tournament for the first time in 2022 on a single-year license. The event was held last year in the city for the second time after being relocated from Mexico.
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