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
Not so Cool Britannia! Noel Gallagher gives damning verdict on Keir Starmer
Noel Gallagher has insisted he would still back Tony Blair for PM - as he warned Keir Starmer not to2024-05-21EU, UN reschedule launch of anti
PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP) — The European Union and United Nations abruptly rescheduled the launch of2024-05-21- WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration on Wednesday said it will cancel $6 billion in student lo2024-05-21
- WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration on Wednesday said it will cancel $6 billion in student lo2024-05-21
What's next for Iran after death of its president in crash?
JERUSALEM (AP) — The death of Iran’s president is unlikely to lead to any immediate changes in Iran’2024-05-21Wrexham owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney want to expand stadium capacity to 55,000
Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney have given an insight into their long-term ambitions for Welsh socc2024-05-21
atest comment