Women's tennis in the Kingdom? Yes, please.
Saudi Arabia has been stepping up its game in the sports world. The country's been going all out, investing big bucks in football, golf and other sports. And now, there are talks about bringing women's tennis tournaments to the Kingdom.
The Women's Tennis Association is seriously considering the idea and big names, such as Ons Jabeur - the superstar tennis player - are already on board with the idea. Even the legendary founder of WTA, Billie Jean King is rooting for the idea and it's their support that is pushing the idea of WTA tournaments in Saudi Arabia to gain serious momentum.
Tunisian tennis star, Ons, the biggest Arab female tennis player, believes that if having WTA events in the Kingdom ends up benefiting the players, it could be a major game-changer for the sport. She actually visited Saudi Arabia herself and believes this collaboration could make a real difference.
Likewise, Billie Jean is all about fighting for gender equality in sports and she thinks that expanding tennis to new markets like Saudi Arabia will not only benefit the sport, but can also have a positive impact on the country itself. She's all about inspiring the next generation of athletes, especially young girls in Saudi Arabia. She knows that exposing them to top-level tennis competitions can create a wave of talented athletes.
The Women's Tennis Association has already dipped its toes into the Middle East, holding tournaments in Dubai, Doha, Monastir and Abu Dhabi. Expanding to Saudi Arabia presents an opportunity for the WTA to further globalise the sport and make it more inclusive. While discussions are ongoing, no concrete plans have been announced yet.
Who knows? We might just see some epic tennis action in the desert soon.
GO: Visit www.wtatennis.com for more information.
