In the past few months, there have been a lot of talks going on about the WTA Finals moving to Saudi Arabia. With a new agreement between the WTA and the Saudi Tennis Federation, the Middle Eastern nation will now be the official host of the season-ending championship for its next three editions. Reacting to the news, American tennis veteran Lindsay Davenport recently issued her honest take.

Amidst all the mixed responses from the tennis fraternity over the WTA Finals’ new venue, the 3-time singles Grand Slam champion made her stance clear, “Wasn’t a huge fan.” On the Tennis Channel Live Podcast show, Davenport added, “Going there, we’ll have to see… Keeping an open mind of how the event goes, I’m thrilled how it is announced actually six months ahead of time and not six weeks. It gives the players time to prepare, and the tournament time to prepare properly. People just have to see how it goes this year for the women.”

The Saudi landscape has long been eyed as a viable solution, even amid severe backlash from fans and WTA veterans like Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova. At the same time, names like Ons Jabeur and Aryna Sabalenka have also supported the move to Riyadh, advocating for new opportunities. The WTA Finals agreement with the Saudi Tennis Federation is expected to offer a record $15.25 million in prize money. While the Middle Eastern country has denied accusations of human rights abuses, not everyone is sure.

While expressing her concerns over the new location, the Hall of Famer said, “The big question is, how do players feel? Do the players feel good about going there? And do all the players feel safe going there? And I guess, we’ll see.” Not just Davenport, but her compatriot and the former American tennis player, Chanda Rubin, is hoping the event turns out well.

American tennis veteran Chanda Rubin hopes tennis will grow with WTA Finals’ new venue

In the same podcast show, the American former top-10 player opened up about how there are a ‘lot of unknowns’ with the decision to move the season-ending championship to the Middle Eastern nation. She said, “I think there are a lot of unknowns with this decision, you know, certainly the big part is that players know where this big event, this tour’s final, is going to be well in advance now.”

Rubin added, “How well it will go, whether the fans will really be able to get behind the event, that’s the hope. You know, trying to grow tennis in the region, that’s the hope as well. But there are so many questions, you know from the social aspects of it. Hopefully, it does work out well but it remains to be seen.”

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