NEW YORK (AP) — Saudi Arabia’s move into tennis will now include a multiyear deal to sponsor the WTA women’s rankings.
The WTA released word of its partnership agreement with Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) on Monday, a move that follows last month’s news that the kingdom will host the tour’s season-ending championships in Riyadh starting this year and February’s announcement that it will sponsor the ATP men’s rankings.
Both tours’ rankings deals are for five years.
The PIF is the first naming-rights partner for the WTA rankings and the new arrangement also includes plans to promote tennis at lower levels of the sport.
Tennis has been consumed lately by the debate over whether the sport should follow golf and others in making deals with Saudi Arabia, where rights groups say women continue to face discrimination in most aspects of family life and homosexuality is a major taboo, as it is in much of the rest of the Middle East.
Insider Q&A: CIA's chief technologist's cautious embrace of generative AI
Russia election: Arrests for vandalism as ballot boxes targeted in Putin vote
Shortland Street: Fate of much
VOX POPULI: Leadership skills of the past are missing in the politics of today
Travis Kelce downs whiskey shot on slice of bread at Kelce Jam without Taylor Swift
In pictures: Auckland's Ramadan Night Markets in New Lynn
VOX POPULI: China always occupied a special place in Ozawa’s heart
The fightback begins: Boss of London's Queen Mary University tells pro
Public servants want to know if management positions will be on the chopping block
Ricky Stenhouse punching Kyle Busch could lead to suspension
China coronavirus update: More than 88 million COVID