The WTA has agreed to host Saudi Arabia for a three-year tournament that will see eight of the season’s leading women’s singles players and eight of the best doubles teams compete.
The WTA said this year’s total prize money of $15.5 million (£12 million) is the highest in the history of women’s sports.
Many critics claim that investment in top-level sport is an attempt to gain legitimacy and divert attention from Saudi Arabia’s controversial human rights record, a practice known as “sport shuffling.”
Despite reforms – for example, the ban on women driving was officially lifted in 2018 – concerns remain about the kingdom’s suitability to host major women’s sporting events.
“Gender-based discrimination continues to exist in most aspects of family life, including marriage, divorce and child custody,” Fakih told BBC Sport.
BBC Sport asked the Saudi Tennis Federation (STF) to address the issues during the WTA Finals, but no officials were made available for interviews.
Campaign group Human Rights Watch said there was no evidence that the WTA’s presence was improving Saudi women’s rights, citing a “lack of action” in cases involving women imprisoned for advocating for change.
Manahel al-Otaibi is a fitness influencer and activist who has been sentenced to five years in prison for tweeting in support of women’s rights.
Her sister Fawzia al-Otaibi told BBC Sport, “Saudi authorities continue to detain my sister while insisting on whitewashing their image and claiming to empower women in front of Western media.”
Otaibi’s other sister, Mariam, remains subject to a travel ban that also limits her speech and access to government services, according to Human Rights Watch.
“Seeing human rights defenders imprisoned and still imprisoned today — cases that were known before the WTA became involved — is a good indicator of the lack of progress,” said Minky Worden, global advocacy director at Human Rights Watch.
“It is clear that the Saudi authorities have not felt any meaningful pressure to take any action.”
Since the finals moved to Saudi Arabia, Muguruza has visited the country several times, going into communities to visit schools and clubs, with a focus on attracting more female tennis players.
From these experiences, she said the women she met were “very happy” the event was being held on their doorstep.
Asked if she was worried about the “washout” movement, Muguruza said: “No, I don’t think so.
“This could have been a conversation two years ago or when people were more new to the sport here, but I think it’s over.
“There’s a lot of sporting events here and they’re very successful. I don’t think so, no.”
