Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova had 'constructive discussions' amid WTA Finals being confirmed in controversial Riyadh move

WTA confirmed that it had discussions with Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova before announcing that the WTA Finals would be held in Riyadh for the next three years. This comes after both former world No. 1 players wrote a letter criticizing the proposals to hold the tournament in the capital of Saudi Arabia, considering the human rights issues the country has faced.

After several months of speculation, it was officially announced that the Finals would be held in Saudi Arabia between 2024 and 2026. These rumors circulated throughout 2023, but ultimately, the Finals were relocated to Cancun last year with just two months' notice, sparking controversy over the state of the courts and facilities for the players.

At the beginning of 2024, Evert and Navratilova expressed their opposition to the WTA hosting tournaments in Saudi Arabia. However, Marina Storti, CEO of WTA Ventures, commented, "We had a lot of constructive discussions with Martina and Chris."

“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.”

It comes after Evert and Navratilova said the plans were “entirely incompatible with the spirit and purpose of women's tennis and the WTA itself” in a comment piece for the Washington Post. “Taking a tournament there would represent a significant step backward, to the detriment not just of women’s sport, but women.” they claimed.

The former world No. 1s also wrote: “We fully appreciate the importance of respecting diverse cultures and religions. It is because of this, and not despite it, that we oppose the awarding of the tour’s crown jewel tournament to Riyadh. The WTA’s values sit in stark contrast to those of the proposed host.”