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.
Hall of Fame outfielder Ken Griffey Jr. to lead Indianapolis 500 field in Corvette pace car
Bangladesh wins toss, puts Zimbabwe in to bat 1st in 2nd T20
'Violent' leader of Columbia University's anti
Exam tutor and education expert reveal the ultimate study hacks to help secure top marks
Russian theater director and playwright go on trial over a play authorities say justifies terrorism
Pictured: Three suspects charged
Israel says a humanitarian crossing into Gaza has come under fire, forcing it to close
Bob Avellini, quarterback who teamed with Walter Payton to lead Bears to 1977 playoffs, dies at 70
Bella Hadid goes braless in a thigh
LIZ JONES: Here's the final straw that ended my disastrous relationship