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. |
5 years after federal suit, North Carolina voter ID trial set to beginBox Office: 'The Fall Guy' gets a muted $28.5M openingMany Florida women can't get abortions past 6 weeks. Where else can they go?Green councillor who shouted 'Allahu Akbar' after being elected in Leeds is accountant fatherBrittney Griner still adjusting after Russian prison ordeal. WNBA star details experience in bookDonald Trump arrives at the Miami Grand Prix days after having his $250,000Green councillor who shouted 'Allahu Akbar' after being elected in Leeds is accountant fatherSierra Nevada records snowiest day of the seasonShohei Ohtani homers twice as Dodgers sweep Braves with 5Queensland mum stunned by angry neighbour's 'unreasonable' note about crying baby