WTA Finals 2024: How is Saudi Arabia tournament unfolding - and what do players think?


WTA Finals 2024: How is Saudi Arabia tournament unfolding - and what do players think?

Published 7 November 2024 Despite being the youngest singles player at the WTA Finals, Coco Gauff is no stranger to discussing challenging subjects. Unsurprisingly for many, she was the player who spoke most extensively about human rights in Saudi Arabia, with the country hosting a major women's sport event for the first time. Gauff said she had had reservations about playing in the kingdom but agreed to go ahead and compete, believing "you have to start little by little" for change to happen. She was insistent, though, that there had to be a "real plan in place". Gauff is - at least for now - willing to place her trust in promises from the WTA and Saudi Tennis Federation (STF) that the deal for Riyadh to host the prestigious end-of-season event for the top eight women in singles and doubles can be a force for good. But it has raised fresh scrutiny about motives and money. What do the players think? All the players seemed upbeat about the facilities and general presentation of the finals at the King Saud University. No expense has been spared at a tournament that offers a record $15.25m (£12.04m) in prize money. On site, the players have individual dressing rooms, alongside a spa, beauty salon and a mental health office. Photographs of players adorn the walls and for the official photoshoot they were individually styled, wearing a number of high-profile designers. "The venue looks amazing," world number two Iga Swiatek said. "It's my fourth WTA Finals so I can kind of compare. For now we didn't have any problems. It's all pretty smooth." Last year’s tournament in Cancun, Mexico was described as shambolic, with the venue only finished days before the tournament began. World number one Aryna Sabalenka felt "disrespected" 12 months ago but, asked for her initial impressions of this year's tournament, said: "I'm really happy to be here. "Such a beautiful place. Everything looks really good." Homosexuality is illegal in Saudi Arabia, while Amnesty International has cited the country’s "jailing of women's rights activists, suppression of free speech and rampant use of the death penalty". BBC Sport asked all eight singles players the same question: "Did you personally have any reservations or concerns about coming here given the record on human rights, particularly around women's rights and the LGBTQ+ community?" The responses were varied, although there was the sense that players felt free to speak without fear of repercussions. Many said they hoped they could help bring about change. Several referenced calls that had taken place between players and the WTA, with Jessica Pegula – a member of the WTA's player council - saying there was "a lot of debate back and forth". Zheng Qinwen, Elena Rybakina and Jasmine Paolini all suggested showcasing top-level women’s sport could be a good example within Saudi Arabia. Swiatek said she was trying to "observe and learn how everything works", while Sabalenka said: "I saw everything here is quite chill. "Me personally, I don't have any issues playing here. I think it's really important to bring tennis all around the world and inspire [the] young generation." Gauff's response drew on her family's experience of the move away from racial segregation in the United States. "Knowing from the past from my grandmother, integrating her school, people aren't going to like it, but in the long run I think it could be better for everybody," she said. But the 20-year-old added: "If I felt uncomfortable or felt like nothing's happening, then maybe I probably wouldn't come back."