Tennis greats express dismay over Saudi Arabia's recent deal.
Saudi Arabia takes the tennis world by storm as it signs a major deal and joins the women's WTA Tour. This move draws both admiration and controversy.
Recently, Saudi Arabia has been making its mark in the tennis scene. Coming off a deal with the men's ATP Tour, the country is now partnering with the women's WTA Tour through its sovereign wealth fund, PIF. This was confirmed by the women's players' organization following the signing of the contract in New York. Similar to the men's tour, the PIF will be the title sponsor of the world rankings and a supporter of the tour indefinitely ("Multi-Year Partnership").
Saudi Arabia has already established itself as a host for women's tennis. It was announced that it would be hosting the WTA Finals in Riyadh from April, an event featuring the top eight female players of the year. This tournament, known as the most valuable one in terms of points and prize money, after the Grand Slams, is set to run till at least 2026.
Famed tennis players Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova voiced their concerns over the partnership, highlighting women's rights in Saudi Arabia and other issues. Evert and Navratilova wrote in an article for the "Washington Post": "We didn't work to build women's tennis so it could be used to exploit Saudi Arabia."
Despite the criticism, the WTA pushed ahead with the deal. Marina Storti, CEO of the commercial division, sees it as an opportunity to "develop the sport, attract more tennis fans, and inspire more young people to take part in it."
Saudi Arabia's influence in sports spans beyond tennis. It's set to host the soccer World Cup in 2034, there's a growing divide in the golf world with the LIV Tour, major boxing matches like the heavyweight fight between Alexander Usyk and Tyson Fury always take place in Riyadh, and Formula 1 now relies on Saudi state funds. In tennis, the PIF also sponsors combined WTA/ATP events in Indian Wells, Miami, Madrid, and Beijing, and Rafael Nadal serves as a country ambassador. Critics label this involvement as "sportswashing".
Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, and other organizations have often slammed Saudi Arabia for various human rights violations. These violations include the killing of hundreds of unarmed Ethiopian migrants last month, imprisonment of dissidents and women's rights activists, the murder of journalist Jamal Kashoggi in 2018, and the execution of 81 people in 2022. The country is accused of trying to cleanse its image by investing billions into sports.
What do you think about Saudi Arabia's involvement in and influence on the sporting world? Is it ethical, or should countries refrain from engaging with human rights violators? Share your thoughts in the comments!
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- Despite the controversy, Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund, PIF, continues to make significant strides in tennis, as it recently signed a deal to join the women's WTA Tour.
- Known for its influence in various sports, Saudi Arabia has now also made a mark in tennis, showcasing its title sponsorship of the women's WTA Tour and hosting the WTA Finals in Riyadh.
Source: www.ntv.de
