“More Energy in the Camp” – Coco Gauff’s Split With Brad Gilbert Leaves Positive Impression as Andy Roddick Notes Viable Improvements

Coco Gauff believes that hosting the WTA Finals in Saudi Arabia could be a catalyst for positive change regarding gender equality and LGBTQ rights in the region, although the former U.S. Open champion expressed some personal hesitations.

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is set to welcome the season-ending tournament, featuring the elite of women’s tennis with the top eight singles players and doubles teams, from 2024 through 2026, taking over from Cancun, Mexico, which hosted the event last year. The current WTA Finals is scheduled for November 2-9.

Despite the potential for progress, the WTA has faced pushback for its decision, with tennis legends Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova openly opposing the move.

“I’m acutely aware of the situation in Saudi Arabia. I truly believe that sport has the power to open doors for people,” Gauff remarked to assembled media on Friday.

“This will mark the first professional women’s tennis event held in the nation. The WTA is committed to supporting the Future Stars program here over the next three years and hopes to actively encourage more Saudi women to engage with the sport.

“Their ambition is to have a million players in tennis by 2030. I hope that our presence here can inspire people to recognize what we stand for and, in turn, foster greater equality.”

Saudi Arabia has made significant investments in a range of high-profile sporting events and professional teams across sports from football to golf and Formula One. However, critics, including women’s advocacy organizations and LGBTQ rights groups, have accused the nation of using its Public Investment Fund as a means to ‘sportswash’ its controversial human rights history.