'We don't have much voice': Kasatkina comments on Saudi's growing presence

(Getty/Albert Perez)

Former world No.8 Daria Kasatkina says that players "have no say" when it comes to the WTA's controversial business dealings with Saudi Arabia.

The Middle-Eastern nation has taken the sporting world by storm over the past few years, including tennis where in April 2024, the WTA announced it had struck a three-year deal with Riyadh to host the WTA Finals until 2026.

On the men's side, the ATP will introduce a 10th Masters, starting from the 2028 calendar, which will be held in Saudi.

But the decision to expose women's tennis in the Gulf nation has been met with backlash, given the country's human rights record and restrictions on women’s freedoms.

One of those freedom restrictions involves the LGBTQ+ community, where Saudi citizens face severe legal and social consequences. Penalties include imprisonment, fines, and deportation.

In July 2022, Kasatkina came out as gay, making her relationship with figure skater Natalia Zaabiako public.

"As players, we don't have much voice in questions like that. Our organisations want to do business, and we, unfortunately, don't have a say," Kasatkina told CLAY during last week's Brisbane International.

"We are players, we want to play tennis, we need to earn money and provide for our families, so I would say we're somewhere in the middle. We are the ones who have to go there and play. It's our job, and we are pretty limited in terms of where we can go and where we can't go."

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Historically, Saudi Arabia has struggled to develop top-class tennis players, but Kasatkina sees a silver lining.

"For me, the good thing here is if we can come to a country like that and show young girls who are there, trying to play tennis or practise other sports, that it’s actually possible, that it's not that far away," she said.

"If we just cut off the opportunity, they're not going to move forward for sure. They were already not in the best situation, and now we would say, 'OK, no, nothing is for you, I'm sorry.'

"But if we can support those girls and show them that their opportunities are actually not that far away, for me, that's a good thing. And if we can improve that, that's also good. I try to think that way."