Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova are still in Saudi Arabia’s fury! Despite the growing enthusiasm for tennis, these WTA legends remain steadfast in their stance, advocating for the WTA to avoid involvement with Saudi Arabia altogether. But now they have received an open invitation to come and have a visit to the country and witness the growth in terms of women’s tennis.

Both of them handed over a Saudi tennis invite from the president of the Saudi Tennis Federation. She not only acknowledged the WTA veterans’ criticism with respect, but she also extended an invitation for them to visit the nation to refute it.

Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova receive a Saudi invite

While tennis participation in Saudi Arabia is growing, Evert and Navratilova are totally against taking the WTA to the country. But now, in a recent message shared by the president of the Saudi Tennis Federation, Arij Mutabagani, she openly invited them to come and see the progress with their own eyes, which will change their lockout things.

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She stated, “I respect their thoughts, I respect everyone is free to say and comment but I would really like to invite them to come to Saudi Arabia and really see the progress that we are doing. We are in a phase of change we are trying to change, they’ve done that they’ve been there. So, I would like to invite them and to come to Saudi Arabia and be part of this journey in changing and transforming tennis and especially female participation.”

Along with that, she also highlighted how once both the tennis giants visit the country, the people in Saudi will learn from them and understand the transformation that women’s tennis has gone through. Not only that, but as someone who has grown up playing tennis, she has always idolized both of them, as they have done a lot for the sport.

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But do you know how this all started? Just a month ago, the legendary duo wrote an open letter detailing their concern about the next probability of hosting the WTA finals. Let’s take a look at the different problems that will arise if the WTA Finals step foot in Saudi.

Evert and Navratilova’s open criticism

Nearly a month ago, in an open letter released by Sports Illustrated, both of them asked Steve Simon, WTA Board members, councils, players, and tournament councils to come together to have a transparent, open conversation regarding the decision to have the WTA Finals in Saudi.

In the note, they clearly stated that although they appreciate the importance of diverse cultures and religious beliefs, they have their own reasons to go against the WTA Finals move.

“It is because of this, and not in spite of it, that we believe allowing Saudi Arabia to host the WTA Finals is entirely incompatible with the spirit and purpose of women’s tennis, and the WTA itself,” one section reads. They also made it clear that the nation not only does not view women as equals but that the LGBTQ community is criminalized there.

However, what are your thoughts on the president of STF trying to change Evert and Navratilova’s thinking about the country? Do let us know in the comment section below.

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