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. |
Zhangxian Dedicated to Unleashing Women's Strengths in Rural RevitalizationHelping, Caring for Juvenile OffendersActivities Help Raise Minors' Legal AwarenessStrengthening Protection of Children's Rights, InterestsChina to Be at Global Forefront of Basic Public Education ServicesHebei Combats Domestic ViolenceHelping Volunteers, Cadres Improve Ability to Protect Women, Children's RightsCounty Helps Residents Resolve Marital, Family DisputesCounty Helps Residents Resolve Marital, Family DisputesHelping Residents Understand Law