Martina Navratilova compares the organization of the WTA Tour Finals in Saudi Arabia to the organization of the event in North Korea. She criticizes this controversial decision and promises not to go there as an expert.
- Saudi Arabia will host the WTA Tour Finals for the next three years under a new deal.
- Martina Navratilova compared this decision to the organization of the final in North Korea
- She and her former rival Chris Evert urged players to think twice before agreeing.
Martina Navratilova said the decision to hold the women’s tennis season-ending final in Saudi Arabia was as shocking as taking them to North Korea and that she had no intention of working there as a than an expert.
Former rival Chris Evert, 67, had urged players to think carefully before agreeing to the WTA finals being held in the Saudi city of Jeddah from this year until 2026. But the deal was still concluded with Saudi Arabia.
Navratilova, speaking at the Laureus Awards ceremony in Madrid, said the move placed the game at the mercy of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, known as MBS.
She said: “The players have made their choice. And I honor that. I just wanted to make sure that the players weren’t making their decision in isolation, that they knew what they were getting into.
When asked if she would consider becoming an expert, she replied: “I’m not considering that, no.”
Martina Navratilova has urged tennis stars to think carefully before heading to the WTA Finals in Jeddah.
Chris Evert co-wrote an article with Martina Navratilova in January, saving the perspective
Saudi Arabia was confirmed as host of the WTA Tour Finals for three years earlier this month.
Navratilova said: “One of the comments I heard, one of the players said they ‘don’t want to get political’. Going to Saudi Arabia is about as political as it gets. Welcome to sport. Sport is political. Sport is at the forefront of social change.
“I don’t see how anything could happen there without MBS’s blessing. He decides what works and what doesn’t. We’re a little selfish to think we can make a difference, but who knows?
“We’re going to Saudi Arabia, which is about as big a change as you can get, except maybe going to North Korea. Chris Evert and I have made our views on that clear, but the players made their choices.
Navratilova welcomed the decision to introduce prize money for track and field gold medalists at this summer’s Olympics.
“Everyone was making money except the athletes,” she said. “For some athletes from some countries, this money ($50,000 for gold) is a lot of money.
