Coco Gauff, the rising tennis star, is set to make waves in Saudi Arabia as she gears up for the WTA Finals. But her ambitions go beyond just competing on the court; she aims to be a positive force and inspire change in the country.
Last year, the WTA made a last-minute decision to move the season-ending tournament away from Saudi Arabia, sparking controversy. However, after negotiations during the offseason and the start of the new year, a deal was finally reached in April. Riyadh will now be the host city for the prestigious event for the next three years.
The announcement was met with criticism and skepticism, with many questioning the decision to hold the tournament in Saudi Arabia. Gauff, however, remains optimistic and is willing to give it a chance.
“Yeah, hopefully it’s a good finals. My last two experiences have not been the best, honestly speaking, with the last two times. But, yeah, we’ve been speaking really in contact with leaders from Saudi and also WTA and having a lot of player meetings to make sure it’s a great experience for us players and fans, and they have a lot of community outreach things planned,” Gauff shared at the US Open.
The 20-year-old is eager to bring more awareness to the sport in Saudi Arabia and hopes to inspire young girls and boys to pursue their dreams. She believes that seeing the action live can make a significant impact on aspiring athletes.
“Just trying to bring more, I guess, awareness to the sport for the girls and guys out there in Saudi. Yeah, I’m looking forward too. I feel like in order to I guess enact a dream or for a kid to see a dream, they have to see it in person. Obviously you guys all saw that video of me a long time ago here,” Gauff expressed.
With Gauff’s enthusiasm and determination, the upcoming WTA Finals in Saudi Arabia are sure to be an event to remember. Stay tuned as this young tennis sensation takes on a new challenge both on and off the court.