Legendary tennis players Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova have recommended the women’s professional tour avoid Saudi Arabia, adding that holding the WTA Finals in the Middle Eastern country “would not represent progress, but a important step backwards.
“There should be a debate to determine if there is a real desire to make progress,” first wrote the two former players, who were rivals on the field a few decades ago, in a open letter which was published by the Washington Post Thursday, “or if holding the flagship event of women’s tennis in Saudi Arabia would force the players to be complicit in a public relations operation in return for a good amount of money”.
The tennis world has been rocked lately by a debate over whether the sport should follow the lead of golf and other leagues in entering into lucrative commercial deals with one of the richest countries on the planet, which nevertheless has the reputation for violating women’s rights and punishing homosexuality — as is the case almost everywhere in the Middle East.
Saudi Arabia first hosted the ATP Next Gen Finals, a competition that brings together the best players aged 21 and under on the planet, last year in Jeddah, and this agreement will be phased until 2027. Additionally, the WTA is in talks with Saudi Arabia to hold the WTA Finals there.
And just last month, the holder of 22 career Grand Slam titles, Rafael Nadal, announced that he will be the ambassador of the Saudi tennis federation, a role which will notably allow him to establish a Rafael Nadal Academy.
“Putting a tournament there would be a significant step backwards, not just to the detriment of women’s sport, but to women in general,” said Evert and Navratilova, who each won 18 Grand Slam singles titles. We hope that will change one day, hopefully within five years. If so, then we will support this initiative. »
Initiate a change?
Another former glory of women’s tennis, Billie Jean King, declared that she supports the idea of establishing competitions in Saudi Arabia in order to initiate a change in mentalities.
“I’m a big believer in getting involved,” King, the WTA founder and gender equality activist, said last year. I don’t believe you can change anything without getting involved… How do we want to change things if we don’t get involved? »
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has been working hard to bring his country out of international isolation since the assassination of the journalist Washington Post Jamal Khashoggi in 2018. He also wants to diversify Saudi Arabia’s economy and reduce its dependence on fossil fuels.
Nevertheless, same-sex relations are still punishable by death or flogging, although such penalties are rarely imposed. In addition, local authorities have banned any form of support for the LGBTQ+ movement, even going so far as to confiscate rainbow-colored toys and pieces of clothing.
“I know the situation there is not ideal. “I don’t approve of what’s going on there,” US Open champion Coco Gauff said earlier this week at the Australian Open. I hope that if we decide to go there, then we will be able to induce a desire for change, improve the quality of people’s lives, get involved in local communities and make a difference to their lives . »
– With Associated Press reporter John Pye