Coco Gauff rolled out for her entry into the end-of-season Women's Masters on Sunday. The American easily beat her compatriot Jessica Pegula in two sets (6-3, 6-2) and barely more than an hour of play. But if she distinguished herself on the court, the 3rd player in the world s This was especially noted on the microphone at the start of the competition, since she delivered a fairly clear message about playing in Saudi Arabia.
“I would be lying to you if I said that I had no reservations… One of the things I said (during discussions ahead of the tournament) was that even if it meant coming here, we couldn't just play and leave. We must have a real program, a real plan,” she declared this weekend, while Saudi Arabia is often criticized by NGOs for its human rights violations, particularly against women.
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For the 20-year-old player, who is involved in her own country on the issue of minority rights, sport can help advance certain struggles. “Obviously I am fully aware of the situation here in Saudi Arabia. My vision is that sport can be a way to open doors for people… I think that to want changes, you have to see things for yourself,” she commented from Riyadh.
“No problem” for Sabalenka
“It’s one of the things I want to see with my own eyes, to see if it evolves. If I feel uncomfortable or if I have the impression that nothing is changing, then it is likely that I will not come back,” added Coco Gauff, specifying that these upstream discussions had notably focused on rights of women but also of LGBTQ+. The WTA professional circuit has signed a three-year contract with the Saudi Federation to hold the Women's Masters at the end of the season in the kingdom.
Also interviewed, world number 1, Aryna Sabalenka, said she had “no problem playing here”. “I came to play an exhibition match with Ons (Jabeur, last year) and I saw that everything was quite relaxed… The efforts they are making for women's sport is incredible and I am really impressed,” said the Belarusian.
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