Martina Navratilova & Chris Evert were involved in a lot of “constructive discussions” before WTA Finals Saudi Arabia decision, says WTA Ventures CEO

WTA Ventures CEO Marina Storti revealed that both Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova were consulted during discussions leading up to the announcement of the WTA Finals being held in Saudi Arabia.

Both Evert and Navratilova authored a column for The Washington Post in January, expressing their opposition to the proposal and asserting that a partnership with Saudi Arabia would go against the principles and mission of women’s tennis and the WTA.

The WTA revealed on Thursday that the Saudi Tennis Federation and the governing body of women’s tennis have reached a new agreement, resulting in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, being selected as the host city for the WTA Finals from 2024 to 2026 for the next three years.

According to Marina Storti, CEO of WTA Ventures, there were several “constructive discussions”with both Evert and Navratilova regarding the decision. Despite the concerns expressed by these two legends of the game, Storti believes that holding the year-end championships in Saudi Arabia is in the best interest of tennis.

“We had a lot of constructive discussions with Martina and Chris,”Storti told The National (UAE). “Obviously they are legends of the WTA, they are highly respected, and they had some concerns. Ultimately we feel like we’re making the right decision for the sport, for women’s tennis, for our players, for our fans.”

“We think it’s an exciting opportunity and an important step for the long-term growth of the sport,” she added.

The WTA has announced that the 2024 WTA Finals will be held from November 2-9 in partnership with the Saudi Tennis Federation. The tournament is set to offer a record-breaking prize money of $15.25 million, with plans for even higher amounts in 2025 and 2026, according to the WTA.

“Opposition to Hosting WTA Finals in Saudi Arabia: Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova Speak Out”

In their 2024 column for the Washington Post, Evert and Navratilova expressed disapproval towards the decision to hold the WTA Finals in Saudi Arabia.

Evert and Navratilova expressed their concerns about the contrasting values of the WTA and the middle-eastern nation. They highlighted the issues surrounding the treatment of women and the criminalization of the LGBTQ community in the country. According to them, hosting the year-end tournament there would signify a step backwards rather than forward progress.

“The WTA’s values sit in stark contrast to those of the proposed host. Not only is this a country where women are not seen as equal, it is a country where the current landscape includes a male guardianship law that essentially makes women the property of men,”Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova wrote.

“A country which criminalizes the LGBTQ community to the point of possible death sentences. A country whose long-term record on human rights and basic freedoms has been a matter of international concern for decades. Staging the WTA final there would represent not progress, but significant regression,”they added.

During their time as professional tennis players, Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova developed a fierce rivalry and faced each other 80 times. In the end, Navratilova held a slight advantage with 43 wins compared to Evert’s 37.