Russia’s Daria Kasatkina has expressed reservations about competing in any future WTA tournaments in Saudi Arabia, saying “not the whole lot is about cash”, amid reviews the Gulf State could also be set to plough enormous quantities of money into the game.
Saudi Arabia has made huge investments in soccer, Method One, boxing and golf in recent times and ATP Tour chief Andrea Gaudenzi stated he had held discussions with its Public Funding Fund (PIF) on numerous initiatives.
WTA Chairman Steve Simon stated final week there have been nonetheless “large points” with Saudi Arabia as potential hosts for WTA occasions, although ladies’s world No.6 Ons Jabeur stated she would “100%” compete there if it benefited the gamers.
Critics have accused Saudi Arabia, the place homosexuality is against the law, of utilizing the PIF to have interaction in “sportwashing” within the face of heavy criticism of the nation’s document on human rights.
Kasatkina, who got here out as homosexual final yr, stated there have been many points regarding the nation.
“Actually, robust to speak about,” the world quantity 10 instructed reporters after reaching the third spherical at Wimbledon on Wednesday.
“It is simpler for the lads as a result of they really feel fairly good there. We do not really feel the identical means. Cash talks in our world proper now. For me, I do not assume that the whole lot is concerning the cash.”
Australia’s Nick Kyrgios welcomed the information of the ATP’s discussions on funding from Saudi Arabia and stated it might convey gamers the monetary rewards they deserved.
Kasatkina didn’t share his stance.
“Additionally, as Nick Kyrgios stated, he could be so completely happy to go there only for a giant cheque. For me, cash will not be the primary precedence on this case.”
