Daria Kasatkina, one of the few openly gay players on the WTA Tour, has spoken out about her decision to compete in Saudi Arabia for the season-ending WTA Finals in November. The 26-year-old, currently ranked number 11 in the world, revealed that she has been given assurances about her safety while participating in the tournament.
In a recent interview with BBC Sport, Kasatkina expressed her confidence in the measures taken to ensure her well-being during the event. This comes after she previously voiced concerns about the Finals being held in Saudi Arabia due to various issues surrounding the country.
Despite her initial reservations, Kasatkina highlighted the positive aspects of bringing the flagship event to Riyadh on a three-year deal. She emphasized the importance of promoting the sport in Saudi Arabia and providing opportunities for young people, especially women, to engage with tennis.
While human rights organizations have raised concerns about the treatment of LGBTQ+ individuals in Saudi Arabia, the president of the Saudi Tennis Federation, Arij Almutabagani, reassured that gay players would not face discrimination during the tournament. She compared the situation to other WTA tournaments held in neighboring countries like Abu Dhabi and Dubai.
The decision to host the WTA Finals in Saudi Arabia has sparked mixed reactions among players and officials. Tunisia’s Ons Jabeur expressed her support for the event, citing the progress being made in the country for women. With differing perspectives on the matter, the upcoming tournament in Riyadh is sure to be a topic of discussion within the tennis community.