Coco Gauff confirms reservations about playing in Saudi Arabia
Coco Gauff will start her WTA Finals campaign in Riyadh against sixth seed Jessica Pegula on Sunday (3rd November).
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Coco Gauff (Image via X)
The storyline of tennis has reached the WTA Finals, marking the first official tournament in Saudi Arabia. However, one player who has expressed reservations about competing in the country is former US Open champion Coco Gauff.
Speaking at the tournament’s press conference, the American mentioned that she has been in discussions with some figures involved in Saudi Arabian tennis. Gauff stated that she wants to have clarity about the plans for players participating in this event.
I would be lying if I said I didn’t have any reservations. Obviously, you know who I am and what I’m talking about. I’ve been involved in almost every decision I’ve made regarding the WTA players. One of the things I’ve said is that if we’re going to come here, we can’t just come here, play our tournament and leave. We have to have a real program or a real plan in place.
Coco Gauff said in her pre-tournament press conference
Tennis in the Middle East is not new, as the ATP and WTA have hosted the Dubai Duty-Free Tennis Championships for many years in the United Arab Emirates. However, Saudi Arabia presents a different situation.
We’ve talked to a lot of women here in Saudi Arabia. One of them was Princess Reema. We’ve met with her on a number of occasions to see what the best approach is to enter this different world that women in the United States have never known. I think that was important to me and that was one of the issues that I raised about LGBTQ issues, women’s rights issues, how we can help with that. I’m also very aware that we’re not going to come here and change everything.
Coco Gauff added
Recently, there have been signs that tennis officials are looking to establish the sport in Saudi Arabia. The Six Kings Slam was recently held in Riyadh, featuring many top male players, including Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Jannik Sinner, and Carlos Alcaraz.
Serena Williams’ ex-coach gives suggestions to Coco Gauff
With the WTA Finals approaching, Coco Gauff is the center of attention. After a tough defeat by World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka, Gauff has been working on her game. With advice from Rennae Stubbs, Serena Williams’ former coach, she aims to improve her serve and strategy.
If she serves less than six double faults in her matches, no matter what match she plays, she will win the tournament. Her serve is as big as anybody’s on tour.
Rennae Stubbs said on her podcast
On The Rennae Stubbs Tennis Podcast, Stubbs shared a key tip for Gauff. The secret lies in managing her serve. Stubbs believes that if Gauff can limit double faults to six or fewer per match, she can excel in the Finals. Though Stubbs sees the 2023 US Open champion’s potential, she also knows the risks. Serve inconsistency could cost her crucial points.
Stubbs drew from her own experiences as a player. She noted how trying too hard for aces often led to mistakes. Gauff faces a similar challenge, especially against strong opponents like Sabalenka. In their last match, Gauff’s 21 double faults made a huge impact. This highlights how vital it is for her to stay steady and avoid errors.
Gauff’s path at the Finals won’t be easy. She is in the Orange Group with Iga Swiatek, Jessica Pegula, and Barbora Krejcikova. Fans are eager to see how she performs against Swiatek, who has also been making adjustments. The competition is intense, with Sabalenka, Swiatek, and Elena Rybakina all aiming for the top. The Finals in Riyadh promise to be a thrilling showdown of skill and stamina.
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Fahad Hamid
(698 Articles Published)