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.
Liverpool confirms Arne Slot as Jurgen Klopp's replacement
China Takes Gold in Women's Team Sprint at UCI Track Nations Cup
Li Bingjie Wins Women's 400m Freestyle at Hangzhou Asiad
Taikonaut Wang Yaping Sets China's Record for Longest Stay in Space
Liverpool confirms Arne Slot as Jurgen Klopp's replacement
China defends men's 5,000m relay title in Rotterdam
Bayern faces uncertain future and tough transfer decisions after losing the Bundesliga title
Target to lower prices on basic goods in response to inflation
Taikonaut Wang Yaping Sets China's Record for Longest Stay in Space
Red Lobster seeks bankruptcy protection after closing some restaurants
Helping Ewenki People Escape Poverty by Developing Tourism