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
US overdose deaths dropped in 2023, the first time since 2018
NEW YORK (AP) — The number of U.S. fatal overdoses fell last year, according to Centers for Disease2024-05-21Tiger Woods starts his 26th Masters with an impressive birdie on his first hole
Tiger Woods has begun his pursuit of a record 24th consecutive made cut at the Masters with a birdie2024-05-21Usher puts on a sizzling display as he takes a bath in sexy Essence cover
Usher made a splash as he graced the cover of Essence magazine.The R&B artist, 45, displayed his2024-05-21What kind of cancer did O.J. Simpson die from?
CBS News Los Angeles Live2024-05-21Georgia Republicans choose Amy Kremer, organizer of pro
COLUMBUS, Ga. (AP) — Georgia Republicans on Saturday elected to the Republican National Committee a2024-05-21What time does Coachella 2024 start? What to know about the music festival.
Coachella 2024 kicks off today 02:152024-05-21
atest comment