Martina Navratilova, Chris Evert against possible WTA Finals Saudi move

NEW YORK – Tennis greats Martina Navratilova and Chris Evert have spoken out against the prospect of the WTA Tour staging its end-of-season Finals in Saudi Arabia, amid differing reactions from players.

WTA chief Steve Simon said in June the organisation was “evaluating” the possibility of taking a tournament to Saudi Arabia, while describing the subject as “difficult and challenging”.

Recent reports have said Saudi Arabia is in pole position to land the tour’s prestigious WTA Finals, which see the top eight women players in the world battle it out in a season-ending event.

However, US legends Navratilova and Evert have both voiced objection to a possible move.

“I can tell you 100 per cent if I were still playing, I would not be going (to Saudi Arabia) for the championships,” Navratilova said.

Evert added she would not support the WTA Finals heading to Saudi Arabia, which has lavished hundreds of millions of dollars on sporting events in recent years as part of a image-boosting strategy critics describe as “sportswashing”.

“I would prefer not to go to Saudi Arabia to play the WTA finals,” she said.

“Not that I’m going to go play, but for me, I would prefer the WTA not go to Saudi Arabia. Obviously they have the human rights issues and everything, just the way they treat women. I would be against it.”

Leading women’s players, however, have been more supportive.

Tunisia’s Ons Jabeur reiterated her stance that she would support a tournament in Saudi Arabia.

“As an Arab player, I’m very excited to be there. I am someone pushing for a change, pushing to give more and more opportunities especially for women,” she said, referring to how sport could help power change when it comes to the Gulf state’s record on women’s rights.

“I know in Saudi they’re changing things and they’re evolving.

“I’ve been there last year to give a speech and interview. It was very nice meeting a lot of amazing women there. For me, I was trying to push to have something, tennis, there in Saudi. I think it’s a great step.”

American world No. 3 Jessica Pegula said she would not oppose a move to Saudi Arabia if the tournament could have a demonstrable impact on women’s rights.

“I think that if you look at a pros and cons list, we’d obviously have to see there be a lot of pros overweighing the cons to feel comfortable going there,” she said.

“Whether that’s seeing them as a group maybe have to donate money to women’s sports or women’s rights in Saudi Arabia, to see some sort of change or action going towards helping those causes in their country.

“I think that would be something really important.”

World No. 1 Iga Swiatek declined to be drawn on the issue, merely voicing frustration that players were still waiting for a decision from the WTA.

Last Thursday, the men’s ATP Tour confirmed that the season-ending Next Gen Finals will be hosted by Jeddah until 2027.

The 2023 tournament will take place from Nov 28 to Dec 2, with a record US$2 million (S$2.7 million) prize money. AFP, REUTERS