Saudi Arabia is going to sponsor the WTA women's tennis rankings under a new partnership
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.
Related articles
Travis Kelce downs whiskey shot on slice of bread at Kelce Jam without Taylor Swift
Travis Kelce was spotted taking a whiskey shot from a slice of bread in true southern fashion as he2024-05-21United Airlines flight is forced to DIVERT after a dog POOPED in first class aisle
Delayed flights are one of the most irritating parts of flying, but a fight being diverted due to a2024-05-21Is taking a Nile river cruise in Egypt worth it? I filmed my five
It's perceived as being one of the most glamorous and romantic ways of seeing one of the world's mos2024-05-21Revealed: The best 100 cities in the world for exploring by foot, with Rome No.1, London ninth
The world's best cities for exploring by foot have been revealed and it's Rome that takes the crown2024-05-21California congressman urges closer consultation with tribes on offshore wind
A congressman who represents California’s north coast has sent a letter to federal regulators asking2024-05-21Flight steward leaves passengers in stitches with hilarious pre
A flight attendant left airline passengers in stitches with his hilarious pre-flight entertainment a2024-05-21
atest comment