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
College baseball notebook: Conference tournaments to decide NCAA automatic bids and many at
The field for the NCAA baseball tournament will take shape this week with conference tournaments det2024-05-21This Week: Consumer confidence, Fed policy statement, April jobs report
A look at some of the key business events and economic indicators upcoming this weekEYE ON CONSUMERS2024-05-21Beijing People's Art Theatre presents adaptation of 'The Miser'
The Beijing People's Art Theatre unveiled its latest Chinese adaptation of The Miser on April 192024-05-21Ashley Roberts, 42, is the epitome of chic in a black off
Ashley Roberts turned heads in a semi-sheer gown as she attended the Variety Club Showbusiness Award2024-05-21Bella Hadid goes braless in a thigh
She is one of America's most recognisable fashion models.And Bella Hadid continued to show why she i2024-05-21Mike Trout is healthy and producing. That hasn't been enough for the Shohei Ohtani
Mike Trout has been healthy this year and is leading the major leagues in home runs.So far, that has2024-05-21
atest comment