The WTA Finals in Saudi Arabia: Player Views and Human Rights Debates

Coco Gauff, the youngest singles competitor at the WTA Finals, is known for addressing complex issues. As anticipated by many, she was the athlete who most thoroughly discussed human rights concerns in Saudi Arabia, given that the nation is hosting a significant women’s sporting event for the first time. Gauff stated she initially had reservations about participating in the kingdom but decided to compete, expressing her belief that “you have to start little by little” for change to materialize. She emphasized, however, the necessity of having a “real plan in place.” Gauff is currently prepared to trust the assurances from the WTA and Saudi Tennis Federation (STF) that the agreement for Riyadh to host this esteemed year-end tournament for the top eight women in singles and doubles could contribute positively. Nevertheless, the event has prompted renewed examination regarding underlying motives and financial considerations. Players generally expressed satisfaction with the facilities and overall presentation of the finals at King Saud University. The tournament, which features a record $15.25m (£12.04m) in prize money, has clearly invested significantly. On-site amenities for the players include individual dressing rooms, a spa, a beauty salon, and a mental health office. Player photographs decorate the walls, and for the official photoshoot, each player received individual styling, showcasing various high-profile designers. World number two Iga Swiatek commented, “The venue looks amazing.” She added, “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.” In contrast, last year’s tournament in Cancun, Mexico, was characterized as disorganized, with the venue reportedly completed just days before the event commenced. World number one Aryna Sabalenka, who felt “disrespected” a year prior, stated when asked about her initial thoughts on this year’s tournament: “I’m really happy to be here.” She continued, “Such a beautiful place. Everything looks really good.” The current venue represents a significant improvement over last year’s tournament in Cancun, which drew substantial criticism from players. Homosexuality is prohibited by law in Saudi Arabia, and Amnesty International has highlighted the country’s “jailing of women’s rights activists, suppression of free speech and rampant use of the death penalty.” BBC Sport posed an identical question to all eight singles players: “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 varied, though there was an impression that players felt comfortable speaking freely without apprehension of consequences. Many expressed a desire to contribute to change. Multiple players mentioned discussions held between athletes and the WTA, with Jessica Pegula, a member of the WTA’s player council, noting “a lot of debate back and forth.” Zheng Qinwen, Elena Rybakina, and Jasmine Paolini each proposed that presenting elite women’s sport could serve as a positive model within Saudi Arabia. Swiatek mentioned she was attempting to “observe and learn how everything works,” while Sabalenka remarked, “I saw everything here is quite chill.” Sabalenka further stated, “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 reply referenced her family’s experience with the desegregation movement in the United States. She explained, “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.” However, the 20-year-old also noted, “If I felt uncomfortable or felt like nothing’s happening, then maybe I probably wouldn’t come back.” The Saudi Tennis Federation’s (STF) objective is to engage one million individuals in tennis by 2030, encompassing all aspects from playing to administration. The STF reports 177 clubs and 14,000 women currently playing tennis, a number STF president Arij Mutabagani hopes to increase. She stated, “Having an event like this and the collaboration with the WTA has immense value that will leave a legacy for the country.” Mutabagani added, “This will definitely improve women’s chances of getting into the sport they love.” Attendance in the 5,000-capacity stadium was robust for the opening match between Sabalenka and Zheng, with the most affordable tickets priced at approximately £6 in local currency. Conversely, a significantly smaller crowd was observed for Swiatek’s match against Barbora Krejcikova on Sunday, which marks the start of the working week. The tournament previously faced challenges attracting spectators in Cancun and Texas in 2022, and former British men’s number one Tim Henman characterized this year’s attendance as “disappointing and frustrating.” The WTA had initially intended to provide daily attendance figures to the media but will now release an overall total at the week’s conclusion. Tour officials remain optimistic about expanding the fan base over the coming three years, though they expect to gain insights from this year’s event. Despite initial hesitations about working in the country, Judy Murray has accepted a position as a WTA ambassador in Saudi Arabia, concentrating on developing a workforce to instruct introductory tennis in schools. She commented, “This is a massive opportunity to be a catalyst for change for women’s sport and for tennis to be that catalyst.” Murray added, “We are starting to make progress, and by the end of year three, I hope we’ll be in a very different position.” Players have conducted training clinics with young girls, and local residents discussed ‘vision 2030’ and the nation’s aspirations for the coming years. Zaina, a fifteen-year-old participating in the Future Stars Camp and training on the same courts as her idols, remarked, “We never really had these kinds of tournaments and events in Saudi, so for them to finally come is life-changing.” By showcasing a dedication to hosting women’s sports, the WTA Finals agreement could also enhance Saudi Arabia’s prospects when submitting bids for future sporting events. While reforms have occurred in Saudi Arabia, such as the official lifting of the ban on women driving in 2018, human rights issues persist. The WTA stated it is “comfortable” with its decision, but legendary players Martina Navratilova and Chris Evert asserted that bringing the year-end event to Saudi Arabia represented a “significant step backward” for women’s sport. Fawzia al-Otaibi expressed anger over the move. Her sister, Manahel, is currently serving an 11-year prison sentence in Saudi Arabia due to social media posts advocating for women’s rights and photographs displaying her uncovered head. Fawzia stated, “For me, it is sportswashing and as for the people promoting it, I see them as partners in crime.” She elaborated, “I don’t only see them as getting paid money to promote sport for Saudi Arabia – I see them as influencing girls to believe this publicity and fall as victims like my sister.” When questioned about the country’s appropriateness, STF’s Mutabagani responded, “We are on a transformation journey, and we invite anyone and everyone to come and help us through this journey.” She added, “I really would love them to come and see for themselves. Seeing is believing.” Former Wimbledon finalist Ons Jabeur is not competing in the WTA Finals but has been involved in promoting the event.