“I would worry about gay women!” Martina Navratilova warns WTA about not hosting Women’s Masters in Saudi Arabia

Martina Navratilova cited China's examples to back her argument.

“I would worry about gay women!” Martina Navratilova warns WTA about not hosting Women’s Masters in Saudi Arabia

Martina Navratilova (Image via NBC News)

American tennis legend Martina Navratilova is worried for the safety of gay women’s tennis players as the talks of hosting a WTA masters event in Saudi Arabia pick pace. The 67-year-old who herself came out as a lesbian in 1981 has expressed her concerns over the safety of gay women’s tennis players while slamming the WTA for selling their souls for money. 

As the talks of hosting a WTA 1000 event in Saudi Arabia, starting from the 2025 season, pick pace, Navratilova has pointed out the issues with the decision. She feels that sending players to a country like Saudi Arabia is “too risky and dangerous”. She also cited China’s example to back her argument. 

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The former tennis ace is worried that the players who belong to the LGBTQ+ community will be always worried about their safety while playing in the Middle Eastern country. 

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Are you selling your soul for money because it’s financially convenient? I don't agree with this. We made a deal with China and look where that got us, and now we are at the mercy of another government that is clearly not playing by the rules (…) 
Martina Navratilova pointed out. (H/T: We Love Tennis)

She further stated:

I would worry about women, especially gay women. People live in fear there. For me, it’s simply too risky and still too dangerous

Why is Martina Navratilova worried about gay women players?

Martina Navratilova’s concerns for the safety of gay women players in Saudi Arabia seem like a genuine one. As the Middle Eastern country follows the Sharia Law, no citizens in the country can come out as homosexuals.

Martina Navratilova
Martina Navratilova (Image via ABC News)

This is because same-sex sexual activity is prohibited under Sharia law, under which all sex outside of marriage, including same-sex sexual activity, is criminalized. The maximum penalty under the law is the death penalty.

Both men and women are criminalized under this law. In addition to potentially being captured by laws that criminalize same-sex activity, trans people may also face prosecution for failing to adhere to strict dress codes imposed by Sharia law.

There have been quite a few cases where members of the LGBTQ+ community have been severely punished for practicing homosexuality. This has led to furore across the globe but the Saudi Arabia government stands firm on its stance. Hence, Martina Navratilova is worried for the safety of gay women players.

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