(Provided by Tennis World USA)
WTA Chairman & CEO Steve Simon has indicated that the women’s tennis organization is open to speaking with Saudi Arabia and seeing if they could form a partnership.Last week, it was revealed that the ATP “has had positive talks” with Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund.When the report surfaced, the logical question was if the WTA would follow the same path.
“We haven’t made any decisions or entered in to any formal negotiations. They’re talking to a lot of different sports right now. We’re evaluating like everybody else. It’s a very difficult and challenging topic that’s being measured by many groups right now.
In February I went to Saudi Arabia to see it for myself. We took a couple of players as well. We wanted to see what the change was. There are still issues but the advancement for women’s rights and where they are coming from is transformational right now.
They have a long way to go, but they’ve made huge strides,” Simon said, via the BBC.
The WTA open to talking with the Saudis
One of the first questions that came up was how lesbian WTA players would be received in Saudi Arabia.
Simon insists he perfectly understands the concerns that some might have but…
