Article by David Istrate – published on Saturday, 09 August 2025, 20:29 / Updated on Saturday, 09 August 2025 20:30
Taylor Townsend (29 years old), the world number 1, has exposed her opinion about how women are treated in the Middle East, transmitting the idea that general opinion is influenced by propaganda.
At the end of July, Taylor Townsend became the world number 1, after a first part of 2025 in which he won three titles: Australian Open (along with Katerina Siniakova), Dubai Open (along with Katerina Siniakova) and Mubadala Citi DC Open (along with Zhang Shuai).
Taylor Townsend: “Propaganda about how women are treated does not match what I saw”
In an interview for Clay, Townsend exposed his opinion to how women are treated in the Middle East, explaining that something bad has never happened in the Persian Gulf countries.
“I spent almost 6 consecutive weeks in the Middle East and I did not experience or saw anything negative, not even once. The champion tournament was incredible, one of the best tournaments I have ever played,” said the American, according to We Love Tennis.
“I really hope people will stop believing that women are treated badly there, because they are not. Propaganda about how women are treated does not match what I saw. I think their investment shows that they value women. For me, this is progress, ”added Townsend.
In recent decades, the countries of the Middle East and, especially Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, have become more and more interested in huge sporting events, hosting world football or basketball championships and proposing to host the Olympic games.
This trend was reluctant by Western states, democratic which accused the countries of the Persian Gulf of “Sportswashing”, that is, an attempt to use sport to “wash” their reputation.
The aforementioned states are criticized for how women and minorities treat, and personalities in the world of sport that are associated with these countries are accused of having chosen the money to the detriment of values.
Townsend is not, however, in agreement:
“I know it is difficult to understand because it is not our culture but, from what I saw, the women were truly valued and respected in that culture and community. It is just a different lifestyle – not worse, but only different. And if we can get funding to help us progress, I think it's a good thing”, Concluded the world leader in double.
In 2024, at the Champions Tournament, organized in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Taylor Townsend and Katerina Siniakova arrived until the final, where they were defeated with 7-5 by Canadian Gabriela Dabrowski and New Zealand Erin Routliffe.
