Martina Navratilova has furthered her argument against hosting WTA events in Saudi Arabia by praising John McEnroe's refusal to play in 1980s South Africa due to apartheid while revealing that she and Chris Evert did the same.

Navratilova has spoken out against the WTA after the association revealed that it had not ruled out holding the WTA finals in Riyadh, the capital city of Saudi Arabia.

The 18-time singles Grand Slam champion originally voiced her opposition in a text sent to sports journalist Jon Wertheim reading:

"I can tell you 100% if I were still playing, I would not be going [to Saudi Arabia] for the Championships."

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However, the 66-year-old later revealed that she has received a lot of backlash for being against hosting tournaments in Saudi Arabia.

"Hard to believe I am getting cr*p for saying I would not go play tennis in Saudi Arabia. From all kinds of angles. WTAF???" she wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.

In response, a fan showed their support for Navratilova by referencing the time when former world No. 1 McEnroe refused to play in South Africa during the 1980s due to apartheid.

"Much respect. I still remember John McEnroe refusing to play in South Africa in 1980 when they offered him $2-5 million (equal to 10-30 mil today) because of Apartheid. I wasn't a Johnny Mac [fan] until then (more of a Borg guy). I am still in awe of John since then," they commented.

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Navratilova reveals she refused to play in South Africa

Navratilova replied to the comment by revealing that she and her longtime friend Evert also refused to play in the country during that time despite receiving an offer of a huge sum of money.

"Chris and I got a big offer to go to South Africa in the 80s and also didn't go," she wrote.

All three former top-ranked players, Navratilova, Evert, and McEnroe, have been vocally against hosting tournaments in Saudi Arabia, pointing out the country's poor human rights record involving the restriction of women's freedoms, the fact that homosexual activity is illegal and punishable by death, and the carrying out of mass executions in the country over recent years.

Nevertheless, several other players have supported the discussions about moving tournaments there, including Billie Jean King and Ons Jabeur, the latter of whom said she hopes to push for positive change in Saudi Arabia.

"I know in Saudi, they're changing things and they're evolving. If they [WTA Finals] play there, and hopefully if I qualify, it will be a great honor and opportunity for me to go and play there," Jabeur said.

Martina Navratilova

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Replying to @markfoley10

Chris and I got a big offer to go to SAfrica in the 80’s and also didn’t go.

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