Martina Navratilova releases statement as tennis icon pulls out of working at WTA Finals

Martina Navratilova

Martina Navratilova will boycott the WTA Finals after the decision was made to host the competition in Saudi Arabia. The tennis icon has been an outspoken voice against the WTA’s agreement with the gulf nation.

Saudi Arabia has signed a deal to host the season-ending event from 2024 to 2026. Women’s rights in Saudi have been a controversial topic, and Navratilova has spoken out against the country hosting such a high-profile women’s event.

The 67-year-old has questioned the players’ decision to play in Saudi Arabia. She has told players who claim they do not want to engage in the politics of the move that playing in Saudi Arabia is inherently political.

Speaking at the preview to the 25th Laureus World Sports Awards, Navratilova was asked if she would work as a pundit at the WTA Finals. The 18-time Grand Slam champion responded: “I’m not planning on that.

Navratilova has been joined by Chris Evert in condemning hosting the WTA Finals in Saudi Arabia. She believes the idea that change can be enabled is “egotistical”.

Martina Navratilova

She continued: “We’re going to Saudi Arabia which is about as big a change as you can make except for maybe going to North Korea. Chris Evert and I have made our views clear on that, but the players have made their choices.

“One of the comments I heard, one of the players said they ‘don’t want to be political’. Going to Saudi is about as political as you can get. Welcome to sport. Sports is political.

“Sport has been at the forefront of social change. I don’t see how anything happens there without the blessing of MBS (Mohammed bin Salman). He decides what goes and what doesn’t.

“We’re a bit egotistical to think we can make a difference but who knows. Maybe this is a good thing, we’ll see how this goes. The players have to honour that, they’re the ones competing. We’re not affected by it. We’re not going there to play.”

Saudi Arabia’s involvement in sport has grown over the last decade in a move that critics believe ‘sportswashes’ the country’s poor human rights record.

World No. 9 Ons Jabeur was one of the first WTA players to defend a move to Saudi Arabia. Speaking in March, the Tunisian said: “I think I’m the first player who would be supportive of going to Saudi.

“The country is evolving. I know that other people have a different opinion, which is normal, but I’ve been there a couple of times and I’ve seen how amazing people are, how women are getting more and more rights. As a female tennis player, I feel it’s time to go there, it’s time to give the opportunity to women who dream of being tennis players.”