Tennis champions write letter asking WTA not to hold finals in Saudi Arabia

Martina Navratilova (pictured) says it will be «to the detriment of the WTA, women's sport and women.» No. 39; Photo: Tim Clayton/Getty Images

Two of the sport's greatest champions, Martina Navratilova and Chris Evert, have written a joint letter to the Women's Tennis Association asking that the annual final tournament not be held in Saudi Arabia.

< p>Most insiders believe that a deal to stage this year's WTA Finals in Riyadh has already been struck after the Cancun tournament failed last October. But Navratilova and Evert argued that such an outcome would be a betrayal of the principles of the tour.

“We believe that allowing Saudi Arabia to host the WTA Finals is completely inconsistent with the spirit and purpose of women's tennis and the WTA itself,” said the letter, addressed to WTA executive chairman Steve Simon and other board members.

“This is not not only a country where women are not treated as equals, but also a country that criminalizes the LGBT community. A country whose long-term record of human rights and fundamental freedoms has been a source of international concern for decades.

“Hosting the WTA Finals in Saudi Arabia would represent a significant step back to the detriment of the WTA, women's sport and women.”< /p>

So far, these kinds of arguments have failed to prevent the gradual increase in Saudi Arabia's participation in the sport. The ATP Tour held its Next Gen tournament in Jeddah at the end of last season, and a number of new deals are gradually being signed.

On Tuesday, the Saudi Arabian Tennis Federation announced Rafael Nadal as an ambassador and said a new Rafael Academy would be built in the Gulf Nadal.

Telegraph Sport reported last week that the Lawn Tennis Association had pulled out of Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund sponsorship for its flagship tournament at Queen's Club.< /p>

However, others ATP events, including in Miami and Madrid, are expected to sign up for the same sponsorship deal, especially as ATP Chairman Andrea Gaudenzi is expected to visit Saudi Arabia this week.

>As a result of the increase Saudi Arabia's investment in the sport seems increasingly unlikely that the PIF will directly challenge the tennis establishment the way LIV Golf is doing.