Saudi Ambassador Defends Potential WTA Finals Hosting Amid Criticism

Princess Reema Bandar Al Saud responds to tennis greats Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova, defending Saudi Arabia's progress on women's rights and criticizing the use of sports to advance personal biases.

Saudi Arabia's ambassador to the United States, Princess Reema Bandar Al Saud, has responded to criticism from tennis greats Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova over the potential hosting of the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) Finals in the country.
The tennis legends had written a column in The Washington Post, arguing that Saudi Arabia's values were incompatible with those of the WTA, and criticizing the country's human rights record.
Princess Reema defended the progress made by women in Saudi Arabia, stating that women no longer need the approval of a guardian to travel, work, or be the head of their household, and that Saudi women now own more than 300,000 businesses.
She also criticized the tennis legends for turning their back on the women they had inspired, and for using sports as a weapon to advance personal bias or agendas.
The WTA has not yet made a decision on the 2024 edition of the Finals, but Saudi Arabia has been investing heavily in sports like soccer, Formula One, and golf over the last few years.