By Richard Pagliaro | @TennisNow | Tuesday, June 25, 2024
"What are they going to do for the WTA? What are they going to do for young Saudi Arabian girls? What are the benefits that are going to come out of this?" Chrissie Evert says of the WTA pact with Saudi Arabia.
Photo credit: Corleve/Mark Peterson
The WTA is moving its crown jewel to Saudi Arabia.
Will the multi-million dollar deal come at a cost for the sport?
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Hall of Famer Chrissie Evert said she wishes the WTA well in Saudi Arabia, while clarifying real questions remain over how the pact will benefit the WTA, the Tour’s ongoing mission for equal rights and the future for girls growing up in Saudi Arabia.
Former world No. 1 Evert and fellow ESPN analyst Patrick McEnroe conducted a Zoom call with the media today to promote ESPN’s Wimbledon coverage, which begins on Monday, July 1st. ESPN+ is currently airing live Wimbledon qualifying coverage and will stream live coverage of all 18 courts throughout the 2024 Championships.
Evert was asked her view of the WTA signing a three-year multi-million dollar deal with the Saudi Tennis Federation to host the WTA Finals in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia starting this fall.
The 2024 season-ending WTA Finals will be staged in Riyadh November 2-9, featuring the Top 8 singles players and doubles teams in the Race to the WTA Finals.
Seven-time Roland Garros champion Evert and friend and rival Martina Navratilova were two of the most vocal opponents of the Tour moving to Saudi Arabia, citing the nation’s history of human rights violations.
The pair wrote an op-ed for The Washington Post detailing their opposition to the move.
“We wrote the letter, we voiced our opinion, which I’m very proud of,” Evert said in today’s Zoom call. “Steve [Simon] and the women decided to go play in Saudi Arabia. You’re not going to hear any more from me.
“I feel like the decision has been made, they're the players. They should make the decision. And I wish them well.”
Though the iconic champions staunchly opposed the move to Riyadh, Evert said their goal was to try to educate rather than castigate supporters of Saudi investment in the Tour.
“I feel like Martina and I had a responsibility to write that letter and voice our opinion,” Evert said in response to a question from Financial Times on today’s Zoom call. “But that letter wasn’t in judgment of ‘If you go there…this is the kind of person you are.’
“That letter was basically just before you make your mind up, before you make that big decision, just do your research. And talk to some human rights activists and people who have been over there and who know the laws of the land over there.
“It was basically just to get some information. In saying that, the decision they made—they’re the players—I’m not the player. They’re the players and they’re the ones that have to live by their decision. And I hold no judgment. I accept it.”
The move to Riyadh is both a lucrative and controversial one.
It means two-season ending tournaments—the WTA Finals and NextGen ATP Finals staged in Jeddah—will be staged on Saudi soil starting this fall.
Additionally, the Saudi-backed Public Investment Fund became the new title sponsor of both the ATP and WTA rankings.
The agreement with the Saudi Tennis Federation will offer record prize money of $15.25 million at the WTA Finals in 2024 with further increases in 2025 and 2026.
The WTA also touts this "partnership will also support broader investment in the future development and growth of women’s tennis, including the WTA’s plans to grow the global fanbase for women’s tennis through increased investment in marketing, digital and fan engagement."
Still, for Evert the core conundrum remains: How can the WTA, which fought so hard for equal prize money, partner a nation where equal rights are non-existent for women and members of the LGBTQ community?
Speaking on the ESPN Zoom call today, Evert suggested specific questions should be answered, including, aside from the obvious massive money increase, how will the pact help the WTA and girls in Saudi Arabia?
“I just want to get the information out here: Women are second-class citizens there and pretty much controlled by men from birth until death,” Evert said today. “Are there changes going on there? Kind of research that.
"What are they going to do for the WTA? What are they going to do for young Saudi Arabian girls? What are the benefits that are going to come out of this?”
Supporters of the WTA and ATP alliance with the Saudis say tennis can help inspire positive change by competing in Saudi Arabia, increase player prize money, tap a valuable revenue stream and potentially grow the game in the Middle East.
Current and former players supporting Saudi investment in tennis—including Billie Jean King, Ons Jabeur, Jessica Pegula and Nick Kyrgios—cite several positives, including:
*Saudi Arabia is already invested in tennis as it hosted the ATP NextGen Finals in November. By working with the Saudis as tournament owners and Tour allies, the game's governing bodies not only increase revenue, they decrease the chances of the nation launching its own rival tennis tour, as it did with the LIV golf tour, and poaching top stars away from the ATP and WTA.
*The Tours receive an infusion of resources from a wealthy investor, which is particularly vital to the WTA, reportedly battling financial issues. That money can be used to promote the sport and expand its global reach.
*Players compete for more prize money and benefits, which has been a primary aim, with the WTA goal of equal prize money at all tournaments more feasible with more money in the game.
Some wonder what have you really gained when some iconic champions suggest you’ve sold out the spirit of the sport?
Champions including Evert and Navratilova question how a Tour created on a mission statement of equality could wind up in a place where equality for all doesn't exist.
“I think the WTA fought so hard for equality and equal prize money. And I think that’s one of the reasons why [the move is controversial],” Evert told the media today. “Everything that Billie Jean and the Original 9 tried to achieve and worked so hard for trying to get equal prize money at all these major tournaments and really stand up for ourselves as women athletes and make ourselves valuable.
“I think that when you make a big move and go over to a country that doesn’t have quite the same principles, in a way, it’s supporting that country.”