Pride of WTA Finals Move to Saudi Arabia

Written by Richard Pagliaro | @Itenisi_Manje | Sunday, April 28, 2024

The Tunisian trailblazer In Jabeur you are proud of The WTA Finals move to Saudi Arabia.

The two-time Wimbledon champion has a simple message for the tour's critics: See Saudi for yourself before jumping to conclusions.

More: The WTA Finals are headed to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

“I am always loyal to this position here and the decision they have taken. I am very happy to be there,” said Jabeur to the press in Madrid when asked how he reacts to this. “As an Arab woman, I am very proud that some things are moving in Saudi.

“Obviously people can have different opinions. What worries me is that some people, they don't know what is really happening there, and they are very ignorant about what is really happening in Saudi.

So as Princess Reema said, you should come to Saudi, be there, and judge for yourself.

The 2024 season-ending WTA Finals will be played in Riyadh November 2-9, featuring the top 8 singles and doubles teams in the race to the WTA finals.

The deal with the Saudi Tennis Federation will provide a record $15.25 million for the WTA Finals in 2024 and further increases in 2025 and 2026. of Peng Shuai for allegedly sexually harassing a senior Chinese government official.

2022 Madrid Champion Jabeur, Hall of Famer Billie Jean King again Jessica Pegula hI have been one of the main supporters of the WTA moving its crown jewel tournament to Saudi Arabia.

Tennis taking Saudi dollars makes no sense Daria Kasatkina, Martina Navratilova again Chrissie Evert, who have vocally opposed the growing tennis relationship with Saudi Arabia. Critics have called the move “crazy” as the State's treatment of women conflicts with the Tour's mission statement to empower women.

Kasatkina said the money talks, but she disagrees with the message tennis will send by taking Saudi dollars given the Kingdom's record of human rights violations. Kasatkina, who is gay, said Saudi Arabia's record on women's and LGBT rights makes it a “difficult condition” for tennis, especially women's tennis, to receive national funding.

Homosexuality is illegal in Saudi Arabia.

“A lot of problems with this country. Honestly, it's hard to talk about them,” Kasatkina said at Wimbledon 2023. “It's easy for men because they feel good there, let's say. We don't feel the same way.

“So it will be, let's say, money talks in our world right now. For me, I don't think everything is about money. Unfortunately not everything depends only on us, and especially me, for example. It's in the hands of big people, unfortunately.”

Hall of Famer Navratilova said that she will not work as a commentator in the WTA Finals because she does not support playing this event in Saudi Arabia.

Critics say it's silly to suggest a tennis tournament could contribute to cultural oppression of women.

Jabeur said the move represents an opportunity for athletes and sports to help shape Saudi culture in a positive way.

Jabeur, 29, says great insight can come from this relationship and is asking critics to visit Saudi Arabia and give the new home of the WTA Finals a chance before passing judgment.

Jabeur says tennis players are talking about inclusiveness and the WTA has taken steps to expand the sport's global reach to Middle Eastern and Arab women.

“I think that if you are in another country, you don't come there to see how Saudi is played, for me, although I am not from Saudi, but I can extend an invitation for everyone to come and see for themselves,” said Jabeur. “If they really don't like it, they will share their honest opinions.

“We don't tell them that they really like anything. Obviously I want to see better ideas. For me, it was always about opportunities, and going there not just to play tennis matches but to give an opportunity especially to young women to see their previous role models and believe that they can achieve anything.”

Photo credit: Clive Brunskill/Getty