Saudi Arabia envoy to the United States said Hall of Famers Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova used “outdated stereotypes and western-centric views of our culture” to urge the women’s tennis tour not to conduct its season-ending tournament in the kingdom.
“These champions have turned their backs on the very same women they have inspired. It is beyond disappointing,” Princess Reema bint Bandar Al Saud wrote Tuesday in reaction to Evert and Navratilova’s op-ed essay published in The Washington Post last week. Also read: Rafael Nadal 2007 French Open winning racket sells for $118k at auction
Tennis has recently been preoccupied by the argument over whether it should follow golf and others in reaching agreements with Saudi Arabia, where rights groups claim women and members of the LGBTQIA+ community continue to experience discrimination.
In their opinion post, Evert and Navratilova queried the WTA Tour if “staging a Saudi crown-jewel tournament would involve players in an act of sports washing merely for the sake of a cash influx.” Also read: 7 Unknown Facts about Carlos Alcaraz that you never knew
“While there’s still work to be done, the recent progress for women, the engagement of women in the workforce, and the social and cultural opportunities being created for women are truly profound. It should not be overlooked,” said Princess Reema. She has been the ambassador to the U.S. since 2019. She is a member of the International Olympic Committee’s Gender, Equality and Inclusion Commission.
“We recognize and welcome that there should be a healthy debate about progress for women,” the diplomat said. “My country is not yet a perfect place for women. No place is.” Also read: Paris Masters to move to La Défense Arena in 2025