Aryna Sabalenka reacts to the ‘refreshing’ Saudi investment coming to the WTA

Last year, in May, the WTA announced a partnership agreement with Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF).

Aryna Sabalenka reacts to the ‘refreshing’ Saudi investment coming to the WTA

Aryna Sabalenka (R) in Saudi Arabia (via X)

Aryna Sabalenka recently lauded the WTA’s mission to highlight the personalities of its athletes. The World No. 1 also called Saudi Arabia’s investment in the women’s tennis tour a significant part of growing the game.

Last year, in May, the WTA announced a partnership agreement with Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF). The PIF is the sovereign wealth fund of Saudi Arabia and is among the largest sovereign wealth funds in the world, with total estimated assets of US$930 billion. The PIF has also pumped huge amounts of money into football, Formula One, boxing, and the LIV Golf circuit.

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It means a lot. We needed this refreshing moment for so long. It’s a big move, and I hope it’s going to help our sport to get better… I’ve been there a lot, and they have passion for sport. Their help means a lot for us. Their support is very important for the WTA. I think all of us will be very grateful for their support.

Aryna Sabalenka told Reuters

The kingdom will also host the tour’s season-ending championships in Riyadh for the next three years that started in 2024. The PIF sponsors the ATP men’s rankings and is the first naming-rights partner for the WTA rankings.

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This new arrangement also includes plans to promote tennis at lower levels of the sport. This move marks a dramatic shift in the women’s tour, which was previously reluctant to embrace the Saudi partnership amid criticisms of the Gulf nation’s human rights record.

The WTA rebranding, with a new logo and “Rally the world” tagline, comes amid a rise in global viewership and a record US$4.8 million prize awarded in 2024 to Coco Gauff for winning the 2024 WTA Finals, which was sponsored by the PIF.

In 2024, Gauff was also the highest-paid female athlete. She took home an estimated $34.4 million, according to Forbes, with $9.4 million coming from her on-court earnings—including the record prize purse at WTA Finals Riyadh—and the other $25 million reportedly coming from her massive sponsorship portfolio.

Aryna Sabalenka’s 2025 season

Aryna Sabalenka had a strong start to her 2025 season, winning the Brisbane International title by defeating Polina Kudermetova in the finals. She then went on to play at the Australian Open, where she was an overwhelming favorite to win the Grand Slam.

Aryna Sabalenka
Aryna Sabalenka (via X)

However, Sabalenka was denied a chance for an elusive three peat at the Australian Open, as she lost to then 19th-ranked Madison Keys in the finals. Following this heartbreaking defeat, the Belarusian has struggled to find her form.

The WTA should show our personalities and what it takes to become a top athlete. We all have to be an inspiration for the younger generation.

Aryna Sabalenka added

She had an opening round defeat at the Qatar Open to Ekaterina Alexandrova. Following this early exit, she played at the Dubai Tennis Championships, where she lost in the second round in straight sets to Clara Tauson.

Sabalenka will next compete in the Indian Wells tournament, a WTA 1000 event. Though Sabalenka is known for her dominance on hard courts, she is yet to win a title at the prestigious Indian Wells tournament. Her best run here was in 2023, where she was runners up to Elena Rybakina.