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
Yu Darvish extends scoreless innings streak to 25 in Padres' 9
ATLANTA (AP) — Yu Darvish dominated a slumping Braves offense and extended his career-high scoreless2024-05-21The EU will probe whether China is unfairly denying companies access to its medical devices market
BRUSSELS (AP) — The European Union announced on Wednesday an investigation into whether China is usi2024-05-21Tucker Carlson says there is 'no evidence' for Darwin's theory of evolution
Tucker Carlson has been mocked by experts after suggesting that Darwin's theory of evolution has bee2024-05-21Alicia Silverstone shares snaps and videos from her rain
Alicia Silverstone is ever the doting mother, taking her 12-year-old son Bear on a getaway to Costa2024-05-21What'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’2024-05-21Channing Tatum transforms into tech billionaire in Blink Twice trailer
The trailer for Zoe Kravitz directed film Blink Twice dropped on Tuesday. The film is Zoe's director2024-05-21
atest comment