Chris Evert orders the WTA to do the ‘right thing’ and decline Saudi Arabia’s deal as Tour Finals remain conflicted

Chris Evert urges the WTA not to consider Saudi Arabia as a potential host of the WTA finals.

Chris Evert orders the WTA to do the ‘right thing’ and decline Saudi Arabia’s deal as Tour Finals remain conflicted

Chris Evert (Russel Wong Photography)

The prospect of playing a future edition of the WTA Finals in Saudi Arabia has received mixed reactions from women’s players. The WTA recently said that it has not ruled out the idea of holding the season-ending competition there. WTA CEO Steve Simon has previously stated that the Gulf state presents “big issues” as a host for women’s tour events. The Saudi state has been accused of attempted sports-washing’ by hosting various sports events to improve its poor image on human rights.

Former World No.1 and 18-time Grand Slam title champion Chris Evert has made her stand clear on the issue. The American tennis legend asked the WTA to make the right decision and not worry about the revenue.

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Evert took to X to make her stance clear, sharing a post captioned, “The WTA is about equality. WTA have been a leader and role models in women’s sports. We have made decisions the last 50 years with integrity and dignity. We have empowered women. Take less money and do the right thing.”

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“I would prefer the WTA not go to Saudi Arabia,” Evert told the reporters earlier this week. “Obviously they (Saudi Arabia) have the human rights issues and everything, just the way they treat women. I would be against it. But I don’t have a vote,” the 18-time Grand Slam champion said expressing her apparent helplessness.

Talking about the prospect, World No. 6 Coco Gauff talked about how she would rather comment on it when it’s official. Tunisian Ons Jabeur, the first Arab player to reach a Grand Slam final, supported the proposal. The World No. 5 believes that hosting the WTA finals in Saudi Arabia will encourage women to pick up the sport. Meanwhile, US Open favorite Iga Swiatek was annoyed by the WTA’s indecisiveness in selecting the venue for this year’s WTA finals.

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John McEnroe supports Chris Evert’s stance on WTA Finals hosting rights

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John McEnroe (Getty Images)

Seven-time Grand Slam title champion John McEnroe has spoken against Saudi Arabia potentially hosting the WTA finals. Talking to ESPN on the issue, McEnroe said, “I wouldn’t do it. I don’t think our sport needs it. I don’t think it would benefit from it, and I don’t think we should do it. But as Chris Evert said, it’s not up to us. Someone else is going to make that decision. They’re talking about the Next Gen Finals going there. This is just something that I don’t understand why we’re going in that direction.”

The ATP recently announced that the NextGen Finals would be played in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, from 2023–27. ATP Chairman Andrea Gaudenzi said in a statement that the decision would help grow the game. Further speaking in defense of the decision, the ATP chairman said, “Bringing the Next Gen ATP Finals to Jeddah is our chance to inspire new fans in a region with a vast young population and unite audiences around tennis.”

While these decisions will certainly help bring money to the game, convincing the players and the fans that the right decision has been made will prove difficult for the ATP and WTA.

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