"This is how WTA takes care of its product and players" - Fans shocked as Coco Gauff, Jessica Pegula and others' WTA Finals clashes see low turnout

The ongoing WTA Finals in Riyadh have come under fire due to the reported low spectator turnout in the stands during the all-American clash between Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula and the rest of the matches. Fans expressed a mix of disappointment and frustration over the low turnout in Saudi Arabia.

The Telegraph reporter Simon Briggs shared a video of the stands during the all-American clash between Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula on Sunday, November 3. According to reports, only about 400 spectators were present at the King Saud University Indoor Arena, which has a capacity of 15,000.

Martina Navratilova, who had previously urged the WTA to reconsider its move to Saudi Arabia, also voiced her disappointment at the low spectator turnout.

Fans expressed disapproval over the low turnout at the WTA Finals in Saudi Arabia, with many seeing it as an inevitable outcome given the setting.

"Women’s sporting finals in a country where women’s rights are challenging and you wonder why a few hundred turn up," one fan wrote.

"This is how the WTA takes care of its product and the players. They deserve more," another fan wrote.

Some fans opined that the choice of location places profits and political interests above the spirit of the sport

"Not unsurprising but sad to see the crowd numbers at WTA finals. Not everything is about $$$." one fan wrote.

"Well this is what you get when women’s tennis becomes a pawn in the game of sportswashing," another fan wrote.

Here are some more fan reactions to the low spectator turnout at the WTA Finals:

"Embarrassing! There is nothing more discouraging for a player than lack of audience. The whole point is to play for the fans!!!" one fan wrote.

"I remember WTA saying Ostrava was too small to host the Finals. Well, looks like Riyadh is too big," yet another fan wrote.

---

"I would be lying to you if I said I had no reservations" - Coco Gauff speaks out on 'LGBTQ issues, women's rights issues' in Saudi Arabia

Coco Gauff at the WTA Finals 2024 (Image: Getty)

During the WTA Finals pre-tournament press conference, Coco Gauff addressed her thoughts on playing in Saudi Arabia, acknowledging her initial "reservations" about competing there.

"I would be lying to you if I said I had no reservations. Obviously you know who I am and the things I speak about. I was pretty much on every player call I could make with WTA," Coco Gauff said.

"One of the things I said," she noted, "if we come here, we can't just come here and play our tournament and leave."

For her, it was crucial that the WTA implement a meaningful plan or program to support women’s rights in the region. Gauff shared that she and other players had spoken with Saudi women leaders, including Princess Reema, to understand the best approach to engaging in such a culturally different environment.

"We spoke with a lot of women here in Saudi. One of them was Princess Reema. Multiple calls with her, how the best approach would be to enter into this different place that women have never kind of, women from U.S., have never kind of been in. I think for me it was important and it was one of the questions I brought up because about LGBTQ issues, women's rights issues, how we can help with that," she added.

In the Round Robin stage, Coco Gauff and Iga Swiatek lead the Orange Group with their wins over Jessica Pegula and Barbora Krejcikova, respectively. On Tuesday, November 5, Swiatek will face Gauff while Pegula will take on Krejcikova.