It is very concerning to know that WTA players could face jail or torture just because of speaking against human rights abuses in Saudi Arabia. Recently Saudi Arabia made a deal to host the WTA Finals for the next three years. The worth of this deal is £40 million. This decision of the Saudi government has sparked controversy. This is because the Saudi government has been accused of utilizing sports to put cover on its poor human rights record, especially women’s rights. Martina Navratilova and Chris Evert, who are the tennis leaders, have shown their feelings of concern with this move.
Earlier this year, World No.1 Iga Swiatek also made some comments. According to her, it’s difficult for women in these areas, but she did note that countries like Saudi Arabia are trying to change. It raises serious questions that it is good for sports organizations to make deals with countries that have a bad history of human rights. Also, Saudi Arabia fails to fulfil women’s rights.
No doubt that Saudi women have gained some legal rights since 2017. But they still face many complexities and unfair treatment in marriages, divorce and in the family. The Saudi government has always aimed to target and silence the women’s rights groups, making it hard for change to happen.
One of the human rights groups also warned WTA players about danger after speaking out against the women’s rights violations in Saudi Arabia. Minky Worden from Human Rights Watch also said that speaking against the Saudi government can result in jail or torture. After this WTA players felt themselves in a difficult position. If they speak up for women’s rights while playing in Saudi Arabia, they could face serious consequences.
The situation is even more complicated because it was only in 2018 that Saudi women and girls were allowed to drive and play sports. So, even though there might be a lot of prize money on the line, players have to think carefully about the moral and ethical challenges they face in this situation.
Women’s rights activists are the key players behind the little progress Saudi Arabia made on human rights. This is just because they have worked hard, even facing severe torture and imprisonment. Unfortunately, there are still many human rights problems in Saudi Arabia. Big sports groups like the ATP, ITF, and WTA don’t have a system to check on human rights. They can’t even talk to women’s rights activists in Saudi Arabia because those people are either in jail or under house arrest.
Recently, the Saudi Tennis Federation announced they’ll give $15.25 million in prize money at this year’s WTA Finals, which is $6.25 million more than what was given in 2023. Despite concerns, Steve Simon, the head of the WTA Tour, has defended the decision to hold the event in Saudi Arabia.
So, while there are some positive changes, the bigger issues are still being ignored.
According to him,
“ We do compete in many countries that certainly reflect different cultures and value systems.”
He further added, We certainly understand and respect that Saudi is something that provokes some very strong views.
“We do have assurances that everyone’s going to be welcome at the finals and I don’t anticipate anything more than positive experiences.”
People are welcome to come to the country to compete, work, or do what they need to do. No one is judged when they arrive. Past events in the region show that athletes who have been there had good experiences.
Arij Mutabagani, who is the leader of the Saudi Tennis Federation says that hosting WTA Finals is very crucial for the Tennis future of Saudi Arabia. It can help young girls to grow and take part in sports.
Furthermore, American tennis player Coco Gauff is not sure about taking the WTA to Saudi Arabia. However, she expressed her hope that this event would bring positive changes. She does not fully support every happening but hopes they can make a difference if they go.
Additionally, earlier this year, Rafael Nadal signed a big deal to become an ambassador for the Saudi Tennis Federation.