From Iranian jail to Wimbledon royal box, thanks to Andy Murray

LONDON – Andy Murray revealed he had an “emotional” meeting with Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, who spent six years in an Iranian jail cell, after inviting her to watch him from the royal box at Wimbledon on Tuesday.

British-Iranian Zaghari-Ratcliffe and Murray became friends after she revealed that watching the Scot win Wimbledon on television in 2016 helped sustain her during solitary confinement.

She had been accused of spying while in the country visiting her parents and held in Teheran’s notorious Evin Prison until her release in 2022.

“She hadn’t been to Wimbledon before,” said Murray, 36. “After the story she told me about watching my Wimbledon final while she was in a cell, I felt like I wanted to invite her to come along and watch the tennis in totally different circumstances.

“Hopefully, a much more enjoyable experience. It was very emotional talking to her and hearing her story. It was brilliant that she was able to come along and watch.”

Zaghari-Ratcliffe revealed in an interview in 2022 that prison officials allowed her access to a TV which had only two channels.

One broadcast an Iranian soap opera while the other was a sports channel showing Wimbledon when Murray was winning his second title at the tournament.

“They had no idea what they had given me,” she said.

On Tuesday, she was able to at last see Murray in the flesh on Centre Court and the two-time champion did not disappoint his guest as he eased past fellow Briton Ryan Peniston.

The former world No. 1, who won his first Wimbledon title in 2013, came through 6-3, 6-0, 6-1.

While Murray has said he would have to think twice about playing in Saudi Arabia after refusing in the past to participate in exhibition events there, Tunisia’s world No. 6 Ons Jabeur welcomed reports of Saudi Arabian interest in tennis.

She said on Tuesday the time was right for the Gulf country to invest in the sport and she would “100 per cent“ compete in WTA tournaments there if it benefited players.

Saudi Arabia has pumped huge amounts of money into football, Formula One and boxing in recent years while the Saudi-backed LIV Golf circuit recently ended its two-year dispute with the PGA Tour and DP World Tour by announcing a merger.

WTA chairman Steve Simon said last week there were still “big issues” with Saudi Arabia as potential hosts for WTA events and the governing body of women’s tennis had not yet made any decisions or entered into negotiations with the country.

His comments came after men’s ATP Tour chief Andrea Gaudenzi said he held discussions with Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF).

“I think it’s a completely different situation than golf. If it benefits the player, I’m 100 per cent there. I hope in Saudi they’ll not just invest with the ATP, I hope with the WTA (too),” Jabeur said after beating Magdalena Frech 6-3, 6-3 in her Wimbledon opener.

Critics have accused Saudi Arabia of using the PIF to engage in “sportswashing” amid criticism of its human rights record.

“I believe in Saudi, they’re doing great giving women more rights,” 2022 Wimbledon runner-up Jabeur added. “It’s time to change things... It’s now or never. I hope they really invest in WTA.”

AFP, REUTERS