Former world tennis champion, Martina Navratilov, has expressed their opposition to holding the WTA Finals in, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
She urged the WTA to have an open and honest discussion before committing to the location and called for presentations to be made to players by human rights experts.
“The players made their choice. And I honour that. I just wanted to make sure the players made the decision not in a vacuum – that they knew what they were getting into.” Navratilova said.
Navratilova likened the decision to stage the tournament in Saudi Arabia to hosting it in North Korea and stated that she does not intend to work on the event as a pundit.
“I’m not planning on that – no. I’m not interested in that as a tennis pundit.” Navratilova said.
“We’re going to Saudi Arabia which is about as big a change as you can make except for maybe going to North Korea.”
“Chris Evert and I have made our views clear on that, but the players have made their choices.” she added.
Navratilova has believed that holding the tournament in Saudi Arabia would be a significant step backward for women’s sport and women’s rights.
“Saudi Arabia has faced criticism for its human rights record and restrictions on freedom of expression.” Navratilova said.
“These issues are of great concern to me, as they go against the principles of fairness, equality, and inclusivity that should be at the core of any sporting event.” she added.
Saudi Arabia has emerged as the host country for the prestigious WTA Tour Finals for the next three years.
The announcement comes as part of a new deal that showcases Saudi Arabia’s commitment to promoting women’s sports and further establishing itself as a global sports destination.
This historic decision not only marks a significant milestone for Saudi Arabia but also represents a transformative step forward for women’s sports in the region.
