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.
Pentagon vows to keep weapons moving to Ukraine as Kyiv faces a renewed assault by Russia
Highlights of esports matches at 19th Asian Games
My Dream Is to Become a Director in China
Village Official Leads Farmers in Promoting Rural Revitalization
Minnesota Uber and Lyft driver pay package beats deadline to win approval in Legislature
Shenzhen promotes industrial tourism
Peng Yan Leads Team in Developing USVs
Niu Shuli Explores Nature with Love and Passion
OpenAI pauses ChatGPT voice after Scarlett Johansson comparisons
Highlights of esports matches at 19th Asian Games
Justin Timberlake set to bring his The Forget Tomorrow World Tour to Australia in 2025
Uygur Woman Shows Charm of Xinjiang Through Fabulous Dance