Townsend Calls Saudi Women Mistreatment Claim “Propaganda”

Taylor Townsend in action (Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)

Taylor Townsend believes the idea that women are mistreated in Saudi Arabia is a misconception shaped by "propaganda media".

“I really hope that people can unsubscribe to the thoughts that women are treated poorly there, because they are not,” the North American told CLAY and RG Media in an interview.

The 29-year-old described her experience in the Middle East as "phenomenal". She played the 2024 WTA Finals in Riyadh and called it one of the best tournaments she has participated in her career: “I didn’t experience or witness anything negative, not even one time.”

“I think their investment shows they value women. To me, it’s a progressive step,” she said, referring to the new maternity programme in tennis funded by the Public Investment Fund (PIF) of Saudi Arabia. The programme will cover up to 12 months of paid maternity leave and provide access to fertility treatments to encourage players to build families.

Townsend, the only mother in tennis history to become world No. 1 in doubles, also spoke about the ongoing equal pay debate and voiced strong support for a merger between the ATP and the WTA.

Interview With Taylor Townsend

– Do you think tennis needs to take more risks in general?

– Yeah, I do. There’s definitely room for improvement — with the rules, the scheduling, a lot of things need to be reassessed.

– Would you name two or three of the most important ones?

– A big one is the schedule — there’s no real off-season. And when it comes to prize money, the distribution throughout the year isn’t balanced, aside from the Slams and a few Masters 1000s, since not all of them offer equal prize money. It’s not just the playing schedule — it’s also the travel, the constant changes in location, the surface shifts, the ball changes. We’re always adjusting. And the people making the rules don’t go through that. Yet we’re expected to perform at our best every single week. At the end of the day, we’re human beings — not robots.

– And there is the business side...

– I understand the business side, but you also have to take into account the body, the mind, the spirit. It wears you down. For a lot of us, tennis is a passion. It’s something we love, something we’ve given everything to since we were young. You want to keep that love alive while balancing the fact that it’s also your job, your livelihood. It’s not easy. But I think we’re in a better place now because we have advocates. I’m an executive board member of the PTPA, which is great — we don’t have to fight alone against these big entities. It’s powerful to have a collective voice.

— Can you give me an update on what's going on with the PTPA lawsuit against major tennis governing bodies (ATP, WTA, ITF and ITIA)?

—Honestly, I can’t. I’ve missed the last two executive committee meetings because I was playing qualies — French Open and Wimbledon. I do the best I can. Whenever I’m available, I attend. This is my job, and it comes first, and everyone understands that. Even if I miss a meeting, I’ll get the updates. But since the lawsuit came out, I haven’t had the chance to sit down with anyone and really understand where things stand right now.

—The equal prize money debate is ongoing. It never stops. Some fight for equity, while others argue that in tennis, men generate more profit than women. What’s your deep view on this?

— I understand that argument from a TV and viewership perspective. But women’s tennis is one of the highest-grossing women’s sports globally. It has a huge fan base and global reach. It’s a different market from other women’s sports. Sure, it may not always generate the same revenue as the men’s game, but we have to look at the structure too. Outside the Grand Slams, men play best-of-three sets just like us. Only four tournaments a year are best-of-five. So when people say, “We play more,” that only applies to those four events. From a business standpoint, yes, comparisons can be made. But what women’s tennis brings is incredible — the viewership, the fans, the support. And the WTA is working hard to keep building that. It’s always going to be a conversation — people on both sides, and some in the middle. As a player, I just feel that if we’re playing the same amount of tennis, in the same conditions, at the same venues, things should be more balanced.

— More and more tournaments are bringing men’s and women’s events together, either during the same week or with just one week apart. Queen’s returned to that format this year…

— Exactly. Cincinnati, Madrid, Rome — we’re in the same place. Same courts, same schedule, same everything. So why is it different? That’s how I see it. But again, it’s an ongoing conversation. The women on tour are doing a great job, showing what we’re capable of, and helping the sport grow. There are amazing things happening in tennis and in women’s sports in general — and we’re only going up from here.

— Would you be in favour of a WTA–ATP merger?

— Absolutely. I think it would be amazing. I played World TeamTennis for seven years, and having men and women on the same team was always a lot of fun. A joint tour would be great — aligning the schedules and making things more consistent would really help.

— Female tennis players can now rely on the new maternity fund program: paid maternity leave up to 12 months, and access to grants for fertility treatments to build families. A great step in women’s sport.

— Yeah, I think it’s amazing. I was like, “Where was this when I was pregnant?” (laughs) It gives a real peace of mind. We’re in a unique position as independent contractors — we make our money on the court. So knowing there’s going to be some income during a time when you can’t compete is huge. It gives women a chance to plan their future. In women’s sports, you often have to choose: be a mom or be an athlete. Now we're in a place where that narrative is shifting. What the WTA is doing is phenomenal. Now you have a backup plan — egg freezing, hormone testing, all of it. Even just knowing whether your body is ready or not while you’re playing. Having those medical tools available is incredible. Being able to make informed choices is powerful.

— The money for this program comes from the sovereign wealth fund of Saudi Arabia (PIF, Public Investment Fund). For some people, it’s seen as a form of sportswashing. Do you see it as a positive sign that a country like Saudi Arabia is supporting a maternity fund in women’s tennis, or does it feel contradictory considering the reality women still face there?

— That’s a misconception. I went to Riyadh, and it was one of the best experiences I’ve ever had. The Year End Championship was incredible — one of the best tournaments I’ve played. I really hope that people can unsubscribe to the thoughts that women are treated poorly there, because they are not. I spent almost six straight weeks in the Middle East. I didn’t experience or witness anything negative, not even one time. The narrative around, propaganda media of how women are treated... is not what I saw, at all. I think their investment shows they value women. To me, it’s a progressive step. I get that it’s hard to understand because it’s not our culture, but from what I saw, women were genuinely valued and respected in that culture and community. It’s just a different way of living — not worse, not wrong, just different. And if we can get funding from places that help us keep moving forward, I think that’s a good thing.