Tennis Beyond the Headlines: November 18, 2024

Saudi Arabia’s controversial hosting of the WTA Tour finals and Billie Jean King’s vision for the future of the sport.

Tennis spectacle collides with everyday reality in Riyadh: Saudi Arabia’s first WTA Tour finals conducted in a country with thousands of political prisoners are under arrest in Saudi Arabia for speaking out against the absolute monarchy and government, many for the “crime” of advocating for women’s rights. Full Story: The Athletic

Billie Jean King took tennis equity to the top of sport. She never got comfortable there: King has been advocating for equality for women for more than a half-century now. There has been progress, but not nearly enough, she believes — in life as in tennis. Full Story: The New York Times

Billie Jean King’s Vision for Tennis: Billie Jean King turns 81 next week but does not want tennis targeted at people like her. Instead, she wants to see names and numbers on the back of shirts and a simplified scoring system to entice the young. Full Story: BBC

Jon Wertheim Suspended from Tennis Channel: The Tennis Channel has removed Jon Wertheim from its broadcast lineup for comments he made off-air about Barbora Krejcikova’s appearance. Full Story: Tennis

Danielle Collins on tennis retirement reversal and life with endometriosis: Collins deals with endometriosis, a condition in which cells similar to those which line the uterus grow elsewhere in the body. In the lead-up to her proposed retirement, medical experts told her that her endometriosis would mean it would take longer than she had hoped to get pregnant. She decided to return to the court, announcing the reversal of her retirement in October. Full Story: The Athletic

UNC tennis player narrows prize-money lawsuit against NCAA: University of North Carolina athlete Reese Brantmeier is narrowing her prize-money lawsuit against the NCAA to focus only on college tennis players. Brantmeier amended her suit after a federal judge rejected an injunction that would have covered athletes in multiple college sports. Full Story: The Carolina Journal

Frances Tiafoe fined $120K for cursing at umpire: US Open semifinalist Frances Tiafoe was fined a total of $120,000 — but will not be suspended — for cursing repeatedly at a chair umpire after losing a match at the Shanghai Masters last month. Full Story: ESPN

US tennis star Taylor Fritz hails ‘amazing’ impact of influencer girlfriend: Fritz credits his girlfriend, influencer Morgan Riddle, for helping him to maintain the mental edge required to compete at the highest level. Full Story: CNN

Andy Murray Readies Live Tour & Stage Show: Andy Murray is swapping the court for the stage. He has prepared a UK show titled Centre Stage for theaters in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Hammersmith, and (of course) Wimbledon. The show will see him consider what life would be like without tennis for the Scottish sportsman, who won double Olympic gold and three Grand Slams during an era of competition with arguably the game’s greatest three players ever, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djovokic. Full Story: Deadline

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