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
Target to lower prices on basic goods in response to inflation
Target plans to cut prices on thousands of consumer basics this summer, from diapers to milk, as inf2024-05-21Jeffrey Dean Morgan cuddles up to Hilarie Burton as loved
Jeffrey Dean Morgan cuddled up to Hilarie Burton as the loved-up couple led the stars at the AMC Net2024-05-21'It's Rory Delass!' Republic of Ireland's Megan Campbell wows fans with her catapult 38
Football fans have been left stunned by Republic of Ireland women's player Megan Campbell and her ca2024-05-21The Golden Bachelor couple Gerry Turner and Theresa Nist are getting a divorce
J. Lo invests $20 million on documentary, possible new "Bachelor" spinoff 02:442024-05-21Rangers are undefeated at .500 to keep World Series champs from a losing record with Bochy
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — The reigning World Series champion Texas Rangers are undefeated this season2024-05-21Man United legend Andy Cole accuses Mikel Arteta of 'mugging off' out
Man United legend Andy Cole criticised Mikel Arteta of 'mugging off' one of his Arsenal stars, despi2024-05-21
atest comment