WTA Signs Multi-Year Partnership with Saudi Public Investment Fund

According to an announcement made by the two organizations on Monday, the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF) is set to become the first-ever naming partner of the WTA’s rankings. This marks the beginning of a multi-year partnership between the WTA and PIF.

This announcement signifies PIF’s latest venture into the tennis world, following a multi-year “strategic partnership” established earlier this year with the men’s ATP tour.

“Together, we look forward to sharing the journey of our talented players across the season, as we continue to grow the sport, creating more fans of tennis and inspiring more young people to take up the game,” stated Marina Storti, CEO of WTA Ventures, in a statement.

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This partnership marks a significant shift for the women’s tour, which had previously been hesitant to engage in partnerships with Saudi Arabia. Outgoing CEO Steve Simon had expressed concerns last year, citing “big issues” with Saudi Arabia hosting women’s tennis events.

However, in April, it was announced that the season-ending WTA Finals would be held in Riyadh from 2024 to 2026, with the Saudi Tennis Federation offering a record prize money of $15.25 million for this year.

The decision to partner with Saudi Arabia faced opposition from notable figures such as retired tennis greats Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova. Additionally, Russian player Daria Kasatkina, who publicly came out as gay in 2022, voiced her reservations.

Critics, including women’s rights activists and members of the LGBTQ community, accused Saudi Arabia of “sports-washing” in light of its human rights record, noting the country’s significant investments in soccer, Formula One, and the LIV Golf circuit.

Mohamed AlSayyad, head of corporate brand at PIF, emphasized the organization’s commitment to advancing women’s sports. “We look forward to working with the WTA to increase participation and inspire the next generation of talent,” he stated.