"This is laughable so bad";"Are we so dumb and easy to manipulate?"- Fans slam WTA for 'propaganda' poll about WTA Finals' 1st edition in Saudi Arabia

The WTA faced heat from the tennis fans over posting an opinion poll about WTA Finals' first edition in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The women's Year-end Championships will debut in the Gulf nation on Saturday, November 2 for the doubles and singles competitions, with the respective finals scheduled for November 8 and 9 at the King Saud University.

The WTA rolled out the draws for the WTA Finals on Tuesday in the presence of Iga Swiatek, the defending champion and World No. 2.

The Saudi event has had its fair share of controversy in light of stringent and questionable laws on women and LGBTQ in effect in the Middle Eastern nation, with WTA raising eyebrows by moving their marquee event there.

The WTA invited more controversy on Wednesday by posting on their website a survey question inviting fans to pick from a quartet of answers they feel justifies the governing bodies' move:

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How would you best describe the WTA Finals coming to Saudi Arabia for the first time?

• A historic milestone for women's sports
• A thrilling opportunity to expand the game
• A unique chance for WTA to make more money
• A landmark moment for tennis diversity

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Fans on X (formerly Twitter) were livid with the survey floating on WTA's website.

"Instead of streaming the draw, showing practices, or providing any info, the WTA website's homepage is a fan poll for propaganda," a fan wrote.

"Yeah i just saw it myself minutes ago, this is LAUGHABLE, so bad," one fan commented.

"I have no words. Or the ones that are crossing my mind are not polite. What are they thinking of us? Are we so dumb and easy to manipulate," wrote another.

Here are a few more reactions from X:

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WTA Finals draw: Aryna Sabalenka to face Elena Rybakina in group stage; Iga Swiatek and Coco Gauff drawn in same group

The Billie Jean King Trophy on display in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (Getty)

In the draw ceremony for the 2024 WTA Finals on Tuesday, it surfaced that Aryna Sabalenka, the first seed, will lead the Purple Group, and Iga Swiatek, the second seed, will spearhead the Orange Group.

Sabalenka is joined by Jasmine Paolini (4), Elena Rybakina (5), and Zheng Qinwen (7) in the Purple Group. This confirmed a group-stage battle between rivals Sabalenka and Rybakina — a 10th clash between the two, with the Belarusian leading 6-3 in the head-to-head.

In the Orange Group, Swiatek is scheduled to take the court against Coco Gauff (3), whom she has beaten 11 times in 12 meetings. The two will also face challenges from Jessica Pegula (6) and Barbora Krejcikova (8).