In tennis, talk of Saudi Arabia’s investments may be more troublesome for the WTA

The PGA kind of went through a rough patch and then they decided to do something with the PIF, world No. 4 Jessica Pegula said. Many players felt really blindsided by it. I don’t think we want to get to that point. I don’t think we want to repeat what they just did.

Yet while Saudi Arabia’s involvement in the sport seems inevitable, there will be clear debates at Wimbledon, as is almost always the case in sports with no single unified governing body.

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Both tours already do business in countries that have recently faced controversy over their human rights record. Both Qatar and China host annual tournaments where the WTA recently resumed operations after a 16-month boycott amid concerns over the safety of China’s Peng Shuai.

But for many players, cooperation with Saudi Arabia poses a different question. Three-time Grand Slam champion Andy Murray said playing in Saudi Arabia is definitely something I should consider, although it would be more difficult if the country started hosting major tournaments that penalize players who miss.

For 23-time Grand Slam winner Novak Djokovic, the question is about the structure of the ranking.

I think that as an individual sport on a global level, we are probably the closest to golf in terms of how we see the sport, Djokovic said on Saturday. I think we can probably learn a lot from this example, some positive, some negative, and try to structure the deal if it goes in that direction in the right way that protects the integrity, tradition and history of this sport, but still be able to grow it in an appropriate way.

WTA players can have different spikes to wade through.

At an event in London last week celebrating the WTA’s 50th anniversary, association chairman and CEO Steve Simon said he had met with Saudi officials in the capital Riyadh in February as the WTA explored a partnership with the kingdom. . Simon declined an interview request, but said in a statement to The Post that the organization has yet to make formal agreements.

Still, her comments in London came just days after the WTA announced a pledge to raise prize money at major tournaments and close the gender pay gap between its players and the ATP by 2033.

So the stakes of the Saudi partnership seem higher for the WTA: they need money.

But its players struggle with the country’s absurd human rights situation, in addition to the fact that Saudi Arabia has an equally bad situation, especially in terms of women’s rights and laws against homosexuality. Unlike ATP, The WTA has a handful of openly gay players.

Many questions related to this country. Honestly, hard to talk about, said world No. 10 Daria Kasatkina, who is gay and often travels with her partner when competing. Of course it’s easier and they also talk to ATP. It’s easier for men because they feel pretty good there. We don’t feel the same way. Money talks in our world right now. I don’t think it’s all about the money. Unfortunately, it’s not all about us and especially me.

For some, a women’s tour in partnership with PIF would be a way to force progress in Saudi Arabia. At an anniversary event in London last week, WTA founding member and legendary equality activist Billie Jean King expressed her support for talks with the country, saying: How are we going to change things if we don’t participate?

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If this change comes with other motivations, then so be it, said world No. 6 Ons Jabeur of Tunisia, who made history as the first Arab woman in a Grand Slam final when competing for last year’s Wimbledon title. In her opinion, the effort to change the country’s negative reputation through sports will ultimately fund women’s sports and benefit the women of Saudi Arabia.

If it’s useful [the] player, I’m 100 percent there. I said again, and I hope Saudi Arabia they don’t just invest in the ATP, hopefully the WTA. I think Saudi Arabia they are doing great by giving women more rights. It’s time to change things. Believe it or not, we currently have two of the best women in the Arab world playing tennis. Now or never. I hope they really invest in the WTA, said Jabeur, who added that he traveled to Saudi Arabia last year and came away impressed.

Yeah, let’s see what the deal is. I hope they see us as players, not just an investment, but give us more advantages than what we had right now.