A number of top players on the WTA tour expressed their surprise at the abrupt decision by WTA chief executive, Portia Archer, to resign from her role this week after two years at the helm.

“I heard literally two minutes ago, so I really don’t know why now and everything,” said Iga Swiatek after winning her first-round match 6-1, 6-2 against Daria Snigur at the Madrid Open. “We always had a good relationship. I felt like she listened to what we had to say and was really open-minded.”

An experienced sports executive who previously worked in the NBA’s G League, Archer was appointed CEO of the WTA in June 2024. She took her role months before the WTA Finals, the tour’s flagship year-end event, began its first of three years in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The three-year deal expires this year and will probably move on from Saudi Arabia after the kingdom chose not to renew it, with the search begun for a new location in 2027.

Archer’s resignation was communicated to WTA staff by its chair, Valerie Camillo, in an email on Wednesday night in Madrid. “I am writing to share that Portia has informed us of her decision to step down from her role as CEO, effective 20 April, ahead of her contract renewal,” she wrote. “We are working through a transition plan for the leadership of the WTA Tour and will share an update on this by mid-May.”

Aryna Sabalenka, the No 1 player for the majority of Archer’s tenure, followed Swiatek by expressing her surprise at the news and her admiration for the outgoing CEO after her 7-5, 6-3 win over Peyton Stearns. “I just [heard] that before going to the match,” Sabalenka said. “I feel like she did a great job. I just want the best for the WTA tour and hopefully we are for a better outcome.”

However, Belinda Bencic, the 2020 Olympic gold medallist ranked No 12, appeared less enthusiastic, saying she had minimal contact with Archer during her tenure. “I got the email probably yesterday, so I didn’t know about it and I honestly didn’t know her so well,” Bencic said, smiling. “I didn’t talk to her so much and she didn’t talk to me so much.”

Perhaps Archer’s most high-profile decision was the delicate case involving Elena Rybakina and her coach Stefano Vukov, who was suspended from all tour events by the WTA last year due to alleged verbal abuse. Archer supervised the investigation and Vukov’s initial ban. The ban was later overturned, with Vukov rejoining Rybakina’s team on-site from August onwards, including as she won the WTA Finals last year.

Rybakina had been critical of the WTA throughout the investigation and during the ceremonial photoshoot after her victory at the WTA Finals refused to pose for photographs with Archer.