RIYADH: When former tennis stars Martina Navratilova and Chris Evert decided to question the Women’s Tennis Association’s ties with Saudi Arabia, they failed to take into account how far tennis, and women’s sports in general, have come in recent years, and the level of empowerment that female athletes have been afforded in that time.
The response from Saudi Ambassador to the US Princess Reema bint Bandar was swift, describing their views as “outdated” and “Western-centric.”
Tunisian star Ons Jabeur, a strong supporter of Arab and Saudi tennis, said critics should be “more informed.”
Indeed, anyone keeping an eye on the development of Saudi tennis in recent years will know how different the reality is to those negative stereotypes.
Talented players of different age groups are being cultivated.
Eighteen-year-old Lara Wjdey Bukary, an emerging star from Jeddah, discovered her passion for tennis seven years ago through her two older brothers, before her father began training with her.
Today, Bukary boasts some impressive achievements. She represented Saudi Arabia in the Kingdom’s first-ever participation in the Billie Jean King Cup in 2023, took home a silver medal during the 2022 Saudi Games, and followed that up with a bronze last year.
“I was the only Saudi on the podium, so that was pretty exciting,” Bukary told Arab News.
“I just want to be able to represent my country and, hopefully, get some titles, international tournaments, and grow as a tennis player.”
Among tennis circles in Saudi Arabia, 8-year-old Sama Al-Bakr is a name on many people’s lips, her undoubted potential symbolizing just what the future of Saudi women’s tennis could offer.
“She’s the only one in the Al-Bakr family that plays this sport,” her father, Ali Al-Bakr, told Arab News.
Hailing from Alkhobar in the Eastern Province, Sama has already rubbed shoulders with tennis greats such as Novak Djokovic when he visited during the Riyadh Season in late 2023.
She described being “happy, surprised, excited” when offered the opportunity to play with him and “beat him with the backhand.”
In September, Sama came first in a regional aged 7-10 mixed boys and girl’s tennis tournament.
After she was invited to participate, her father was told she would be playing among boys, in case he had any objections. Her father said that, on the contrary, his only thoughts were “I’m happy for the challenge and I feel sorry for these boys.”
The goal for Sama “is definitely going to be an international level,” Al-Bakr said.
He added that the “sky is the limit in the future,” and his daughter has the potential to become “the first Saudi girl who will play in Wimbledon as she promised.”
In Riyadh, 24-year-old Maha Kabbani has been playing tennis since seeing a Rafael Nadal match on television at the age of 9.
Like Bukary and young Sama, family support played a crucial role in her love for tennis.
Kabbani’s role model is her brother, who from a young age nurtured her passion for tennis and encouraged her to pursue a career in the sport.
“We used to train, me and my brother, at home and we started hitting the walls and then we got a tennis net,” she told Arab News.
“My family is the biggest supporter. They saw my passion, they saw the light inside me. Tennis has put such a light inside me that it made me shine,” Kabbani added.
From practicing with her brother in a make-do tennis court built in their small garden to training at Tennis Home Academy in Riyadh, Kabbani’s tennis journey highlights the transformative role played by Saudi Arabia’s post-2016 social reforms.
“I remember being 9 years old and trying to find a court. We could barely have one court, let alone academies. So, that’s huge progress,” she told Arab News.
“Right now, we are living our dreams and meeting the people that inspired us when we were younger.”
Kabbani said that past obstacles are now firmly behind them, and this is the “perfect time” for women and girls in the country to get involved in tennis.
“This is the perfect motivation,” she said.
The Saudi Tennis Federation is currently headed by a woman, Arij Almutabagani.
“We deserve to live our dreams, and see this progress and we deserve to enjoy our passion,” Kabbani said.
Saudi female tennis players challenge stereotypes as sporting dreams become reality
https://arab.news/yzfdf
Saudi female tennis players challenge stereotypes as sporting dreams become reality
- The response from Saudi Ambassador to the US Princess Reema bint Bandar was swift, describing their views as “outdated” and “Western-centric”
- Talented players of different age groups are being cultivated
MESIF 2026 wraps up in Riyadh with spotlight on legacy, fans and sustainable sports growth
- A recurring theme in panel discussions was the importance of moving beyond siloed planning toward connected strategies
- Abdullah Aldrees: I believe Saudi is a sleeping giant within the football ecosystem because of the high demand that exists
RIYADH: The sixth edition of the Middle East Sports Investment Forum concluded on Jan. 28 in Riyadh, reinforcing the need for long-term legacy planning, integrated infrastructure development and fan-centric strategies as the region’s sports ecosystem continues to mature.
Held over two days — Jan. 27-28 — at the ministry of investment headquarters and the Kingdom Arena, the forum brought together senior government officials, global sports executives, investors and technology leaders to assess how the Middle East — and Saudi Arabia in particular — can translate major event hosting and increased investment into sustainable impact.
A recurring theme in panel discussions was the importance of moving beyond siloed planning toward connected strategies that link infrastructure, finance, fan engagement and legacy from the earliest stages of project development.
Dr. Sakis Batsilas, deputy CEO of FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, stressed that while international expertise has played a key role in the region’s rapid progress, long-term success depends on knowledge transfer and talent development.
“Yes, we do need experts and consultants and expatriates to help,” he said. “But the main, I would say, focus, is how we ensure that we transfer this knowledge and we build talent … to make sure we have the right talent.”
Drawing on his experience delivering major global events, Batsilas highlighted the need to embed legacy considerations during the bidding phase.
“Talking now from an operational point of view … I think everything starts with a bidding phase,” he said, adding that stronger legacy metrics would encourage greater long-term planning from host nations and rights holders alike.
Fan experience and commercialization also featured prominently, particularly as Saudi Arabia continues to expand its domestic leagues and host major international competitions. David Davies, chief experience officer of Catapult, said the Kingdom’s challenge lies in converting strong digital fandom into sustained in-stadium engagement.
“Saudi Arabia is … ranked consistently in the highest in the world” in terms of football fandom, Davies said. “However, attendance in-stadium is still developing.” He noted that younger, digitally native audiences require tailored engagement strategies. “The days of being able to ask them to come to you have gone,” he said.
From a government and delivery perspective, Abdullah Aldrees, chief of staff at the vice minister’s executive office at the ministry of sport, said MESIF highlighted the scale of opportunity ahead — and the importance of a joined-up approach.
“I believe Saudi is a sleeping giant within the football ecosystem because of the high demand that exists, the government support and the anchor IPs that we’re hosting,” Aldrees said. “So all of this can create a lot of opportunities for football to grow in Saudi.”
He said the Kingdom has entered a critical preparation phase as it gears up for a packed calendar of major events. “We are now living in the preparation phase. We’re preparing for all these IPs, we’re preparing for all these big events coming up,” Aldrees said. “So how do you make sure that you really reap the right benefit from them and have the right legacy?”
Pointing to upcoming milestones such as the AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027 and the FIFA World Cup 2034, Aldrees emphasized the need to think beyond hosting.
“Yes, we’re hosting World Cup. We’re hosting Asia 2027, but how do you make sure that they have a long, lasting impact on the ecosystem?” he said.
Echoing a key message from the forum, Aldrees concluded: “The effective strategy is to be looking at these things together. We no longer can be looking at them as silos and test cycles.”
The transformation of Saudi football was also highlighted as a reflection of broader cultural and structural change. Juan Esteban Gomez, a football expert specializing in digitalization and artificial intelligence, said the shift has been tangible in recent years. “The people here are breathing football,” he said, describing the Saudi league as “one of the most enjoyable competitions in the world.”
As MESIF 2026 drew to a close, participants agreed that the next phase of sports investment in the Middle East will be defined by execution — ensuring that capital, policy and innovation align to deliver measurable legacy, deeper fan engagement and resilient ecosystems capable of sustaining growth well beyond headline events.
