Hey there, fellow tennis enthusiasts It’s your girl Mia Johnson-Carter from Miami, and I’m super excited to share some thoughts about the recent WTA Finals held in Saudi Arabia. This event has been making waves not just in the tennis world but also in the broader sports and social justice communities.
First and foremost, huge congrats to Coco Gauff on winning the WTA Tour Finals. Her journey to the top was nothing short of incredible, especially considering she had to overcome a brutal opening set and a nail-biting third set to defeat Qinwen Zheng 3-6, 6-4, 7-6(2) [1]. Gauff’s victory marked her as the champion of the most prestigious event on the WTA calendar.
However, the event was not without controversy. Many, including tennis legends Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova, have expressed their disappointment and concern about holding such an important tournament in Saudi Arabia. The killing of Jamal Khashoggi, a Saudi dissident journalist, in 2018 was a major point of contention. Additionally, women in Saudi Arabia still face significant restrictions on their freedoms, including needing a “male guardian” and facing severe penalties for expressing dissenting views or engaging in certain behaviors [1].
Despite these moral arguments, the WTA needed financial support and took the Saudi dollars. Other sports have faced similar dilemmas; for instance, golf’s LIV Tour has been embroiled in a financial dispute with the traditional golf establishment. The ATP, however, quietly sidestepped this issue by maintaining their sponsorship deals with Nitto while allowing the Saudi Public Investment Fund to sponsor their rankings [1].
If we ignore the moral implications for a moment, there are practical issues to consider. The King Saud University Indoor Arena, where the tournament was held, has a capacity of only 5,000 people. While it was almost sold out for the final and semi-finals, overall attendance was low, especially compared to other major tournaments like the Rolex Paris Masters, which drew 15,000 fans [1].
To put this into perspective, last month’s Six Kings Slam exhibition featuring Novak Djokovic, Rafa Nadal, and other top players drew sell-out crowds of 8,000 in Riyadh. In contrast, there were days when fewer than 400 people attended the WTA Finals in Saudi Arabia [1].
Tennis governors have shown themselves to be willing to overlook these issues for financial gain. However, Gauff’s victory may prove to be a double-edged sword for the Saudis. As she explained at the start of the Finals: “I want to see it for myself, see if the change is happening. I really do feel like in order to ignite change, you have to start little by little” [1].
If Gauff decides not to return next year, it could be a significant blow to the WTA’s plans to continue holding events in Saudi Arabia. This would vindicate the concerns of Evert and Navratilova while also highlighting the complexities of balancing financial needs with moral and ethical considerations.
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