The WTA has revealed a “multi-year partnership” with Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund (PIF), following the agreement reached with the ATP in February. In a joint statement between the WTA and PIF, Marina Storti, CEO of WTA Ventures, commented, “We look forward to sharing the journey of our talented players throughout the season as we continue to grow the sport and inspire young people to start playing,” adding that “PIF will become the first title sponsor of the WTA Rankings.”

Mohamed Alsayyad from PIF stated in the announcement, “Through our partnership with the WTA, PIF will continue to be a catalyst for the growth of women’s sports,” adding that “this partnership aligns with our ambition to elevate the game and generate positive growth for the sport worldwide.”

WTA FINALS

The connection between women’s tennis and Saudi Arabia is not new; a few weeks ago, it was announced that the WTA Finals, featuring the world’s top eight players, will be held in Riyadh for the next three years.

Saudi Arabia and tennis in general are already linked, organizing the inaugural ATP Tour Next Gen Finals event and even hosting exhibition matches with Djokovic, Sabalenka, and Jabeur. Additionally, Rafa Nadal became an ambassador for the Saudi Tennis Federation earlier this year.

Outside of tennis, Saudi Arabia is already a host country for many major sporting events such as the Dakar Rally, Formula 1, MotoGP, and the Arab Super League with top footballers like Cristiano Ronaldo.