The decision to host the 2024 WTA Finals in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, has ignited a heated debate within the tennis community and beyond. While WTA CEO Portia Archer has declared her organization’s dedication to advancing women’s empowerment in the kingdom, doubts linger about the effectiveness and speed of the promised progress.
The primary point of contention centers around Saudi Arabia’s human rights record, particularly its treatment of women. Prominent figures in tennis, such as Martina Navratilova and Chris Evert, have openly expressed their opposition to the event. However, Coco Gauff has argued that holding the season-ending tournament in Saudi Arabia could potentially open doors for LGBTQ rights and gender equality.
Archer, responding to skepticism regarding the WTA’s commitment to change, emphasized the organization’s proactive engagement with Saudi authorities. She stated: “The message to the sceptics seems to have been come here, experience it for yourself. But I’m interested in the day-to-day life of Saudi people, Saudi women, also the Saudi LGBTQ plus community as well. The Kingdom itself has published its 2030 goals. We’re part of helping to contribute to achieving those goals around women’s empowerment. So we believe in the vision of some of the things that have been stated about empowering women and we think we can play a role in that.”
Archer highlighted the WTA’s involvement with local organizations, particularly the Saudi Tennis Federation, to promote the sport and contribute to the kingdom’s 2030 vision of increasing participation in tennis. She emphasized the WTA’s commitment to monitoring progress and actively contributing to the development of the sport within the kingdom.
However, former British No. 1 Laura Robson, while acknowledging the positive changes observed during the tournament, voiced concerns about the pace and depth of these changes. Robson stated, “I think slow and steady seems to be the message that we’ve heard throughout the week, hasn’t it? And the fact that it has changed since a lot of people that we’ve spoken to have been here just two, three years ago, that’s a positive message. But I think we’d want to see it faster, wouldn’t we? We want to see more inclusivity, especially for women’s tennis, which has been so progressive and so inclusive throughout its history, for them to kind of lead the way on this and to hopefully push even further.”
Robson further expressed her hope to see a significant difference in the coming year, stressing the importance of sustained progress beyond the tournament. “It’s interesting to hear the vision. We’ve all read the vision. And now we’ve got to see that actually take place, because we all know that actions speak louder than words. I think for a first year, there’s a lot of us that can see the event that has been put on for the players as being first class, but there’s so much more around it. And we hope that the WTA and this event can be part of change going forward.”
The WTA’s involvement in Saudi Arabia presents a complex scenario, with its commitment to promoting women’s empowerment intertwined with concerns about the kingdom’s human rights record. Whether the WTA’s efforts will lead to meaningful and lasting change remains to be seen. The coming years will provide a critical test for the organization’s commitment to fostering positive social impact in the kingdom.
