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
King Charles says his 'thoughts and prayers' are with family of 14
17th Chinese Bridge language competition held in Bulgaria
ROBERT HARDMAN: When Charles wears his T
Minnesota Uber and Lyft driver pay package beats deadline to win approval in Legislature
USDA is testing ground beef for bird flu
Brad Pitt's girlfriend Ines De Ramon takes a stroll with male pal in LA
Egyptian, Chinese students mark UN Chinese Language Day in Cairo
College baseball notebook: Conference tournaments to decide NCAA automatic bids and many at
Drury, Noesen help Hurricanes beat Islanders 6