Saudi Arabia wins the women’s tennis finals: what the WTA president said after criticism from Evert and Navratilova

Saudi Arabia has taken another step towards becoming an important player in the world of tennis. The Asian country will host the next three editions of the WTA Finals, the equivalent of the Master Tournament, which brings together the best eight players of the season every end of the year. The association that governs women’s tennis confirmed this on Thursday, confirming the versions that have been circulating for months, as part of an agreement that will bring the tournament’s prize money to the record sum of 15.25 million dollars, with an increase of 70%. %. compared to 2023.

The competition, to be held in Riyadh between 2024 and 2026, adds to Saudi Arabia’s recent wave of investment in tennis and other sectors, despite questions about women’s and LGBTQ+ rights raised by legendary tennis players Chris Evert AND Martina Navratilova and other items.

“We understand that Saudi investment in sports provokes strong opinions from people,” the WTA president and CEO said Steve Simone in an interview with The associated press. “We met Chris and Martina, listened to their concerns and passed them on to our partners without prejudice. We also share concerns about the rights of women and the LGBTQ+ community with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Our goal is to promote women’s tennis for the benefit of everyone involved in tennis.”

“The reality is we are a global tour, a global business. We currently have players from 90 countries. We have 90 tournaments… We are in many countries that have different cultures and value systems,” Simon added.

Regarding concerns tour players might have, the former American tennis player responded: “We’re not thinking about persuading anyone. Players will have to make their own decisions and we believe everyone who qualifies will compete.”

The WTA has considered several locations in Europe, North America and Asia as new venues for a tournament that has been played in five different cities for the past five editions, after an agreement to take over Shenzhen, China, until 2030 was been frustrated by the coronavirus pandemic. It is the case of Peng Shuaia Grand Slam doubles champion who accused a senior Chinese government official of rape and then disappeared from public life.

The last two editions took place in Fort Worth, Texas (2022), and Cancún, Mexico (2023), locations announced only in September of each year. And the tournament held in the Mexican resort last year received harsh criticism from several players.

Simon said Riyadh was selected by the WTA, but the deal was only recently completed.

“This partnership will strengthen our visibility in a market and region whose impact on the sports industry is growing rapidly,” said the WTA president. “We expect a lot of events there. Ultimately, we believe the WTA should be part of this development rather than sitting on the sidelines.”

“Hosting the WTA Finals is of immense importance for the future of tennis in Saudi Arabia and for the development of the sport in general. Our country is moving forward. Much has already been done and numerous historic advances have been made by women in all sectors in recent years, in which sport has been a driver of progress for our society as a whole,” said Arij Mutabagani, president of the Saudi Tennis Federation and the first woman to head a sports organization in that country.

For several years, Saudi Arabia has been expanding its influence and power over world sport, through its Public Investment Fund (PIF). created the tour LIV golf and also made progress in motor racing and boxing and injected money into football.

The presence of tennis is increasing. The ATP circuit won Next Generation Finals, with its best Under 21 players, in Jeddah in November and the PIF has just become a sponsor of the men’s ranking and new partner of some important tournaments on the calendar. And there are versions that claim that Arabia will soon become the venue of the new Masters 1000, which will be held first Australian Open.

Rafael Nadalwinner of 22 Grand Slam titles, he became an ambassador for the Saudi tennis federation at the beginning of the year and will compete alongside her Novak Djokovic (first Major winner, with 24), Carlos Alcaraz AND Jannik Sinnerthe two new stars of men’s tennis, in an exhibition in Riyadh next October.