The sudden resignation of Portia Archer, the WTA chief executive, caught many top players off guard this week, prompting a wave of reactions following her two-year tenure. Iga Swiatek, fresh off her 6-1, 6-2 victory against Daria Snigur at the Madrid Open, expressed her surprise, stating, "I heard literally two minutes ago, so I really don’t know why now and everything. We always had a good relationship. I felt like she listened to what we had to say and was really open-minded."

Archer, who previously held a role in the NBA’s G League, was appointed CEO in June 2024, just before the WTA Finals began their three-year run in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. With the current deal expiring this year, the search for a new location for the Finals in 2027 has begun after Saudi Arabia opted not to renew.

The news of Archer’s departure was communicated via email by Valerie Camillo, chair of the WTA, stating that Archer's resignation would take effect on April 20. Camillo assured staff that a transition plan for WTA leadership was underway, with updates expected by mid-May.

Aryna Sabalenka, who held the No 1 ranking for most of Archer’s time, also shared her surprise, saying she felt Archer did a great job. "I just want the best for the WTA tour and hopefully we are for a better outcome," she remarked after her win over Peyton Stearns.

In contrast, Belinda Bencic, ranked No 12 and the 2020 Olympic gold medallist, expressed a more indifferent sentiment, noting her limited interaction with Archer.

Archer’s tenure included overseeing a controversial case involving Elena Rybakina and her coach Stefano Vukov, who was suspended due to allegations of verbal abuse. Although the initial ban was later overturned, Rybakina's critical stance towards the WTA highlighted the challenges Archer faced during her leadership.