Tennis star has few fans

The WTA Finals will be held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia for the first time this year. However, the tennis player of the year competed in a tournament that attracted almost no fans.

follow me

These are the headlines we've become accustomed to: A major sporting event is taking place in Saudi Arabia. From boxing matches to Formula One to the 2034 Football World Cup, this year also features the WTA Finals, the year-end tournament for women's tennis featuring eight of the best players of the year.

All these incidents are part of the Saudi Arabian regime's so-called sports purge. This refers to a country's efforts to improve its reputation through hosting sporting events and its positive image in the media. You can find more information on exactly how Saudi Arabia does this here. Specifically, it is about making the world public forget that the desert monarchy still has significant human rights deficiencies. Women and members of the LGBTQ+ community are oppressed and even persecuted. There was slavery. Just recently, it was learned that a prominent construction project in Saudi Arabia had killed more than 20,000 people.

However, the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) year-end championship was held in the Saudi capital Riyadh. Why actually?

World number one Aryna Sabalenka celebrates in Riyadh.Image: trapezoid

The Broken China Deal

The WTA's main focus is stability. Until 2019, the finals were longer. In Istanbul from 2011 to 2013, and in Singapore from 2014 to 2018. The final race of the year was scheduled to be held in Shenzhen, China for nine years starting in 2019 (at a cost of $1 billion), but the coronavirus pandemic halted those plans a year later.

The WTA does not have a permanent home in China and often has to improvise. Events in Guadalajara (Mexico) and Fort Worth (USA) attracted only a handful of spectators. The lowest point was last year, when a temporary stadium in Cancun was barely completed on time and tropical storms created unfavorable conditions.

That's why the women's tour now has a contract with Saudi Arabia. Starting this year and at least until 2026, the WTA finals will be held in Riyadh. In addition to three years of tournament guarantees, money also plays a role. The WTA is in financial trouble, losing more than $15 million in 2020 and 2021. As a result, the association relies heavily on Saudi Arabia for millions of dollars.

For players, the trip to the desert is worth it no matter what. The eight individual athletes competing in Riyadh alone will receive $335,000 in prize money. Each win in the group stage adds an additional $350,000. If a player wins the game without losing, she will receive a reward of 5.15 million.

Criticism yes, but…

So have the players accepted the human rights issue? No. The criticism has been there, especially beforehand. Darja Kassatkina, who has been in a relationship with Russian Estonian figure skater Natalja Sabijako for more than three years, said when the Saudi plan was announced: “It's a problem with a lot of problems. country.” Still, she felt confident that her safety as a gay gamer was guaranteed.

While she certainly had her reasons for boycotting, Kasatkina was also in Riyadh – and received a tidy $250,000 for being the first substitute. Like other players and coaches, she sees the tournament as an opportunity to make a difference in the country.

Judy Murray said: “There's no better showcase than this. We have to take advantage of the opportunity because the biggest names in our sport are here.” Andy Murray ) and Jamie Murray's mother hope that female viewers in particular (women have been allowed to attend sporting events in Saudi Arabia since 2018) will be inspired by the players. “This is a huge opportunity to really change women's sport in Saudi Arabia.” WTA president Portia Archer shared a similar view: “It's easy to point fingers and condemn from the outside. But some change has to come from within. “

Almost no fans in Riyadh

But in order for things to happen, the event actually has to be well-received by local audiences. While the King Saud University Indoor Stadium was still packed, only a few hundred fans entered the 5,000-seat hall on Monday – although the cheapest tickets cost less than 8 Swiss francs.

“I think it's disappointing,” Sky pundit Tim Henman said of the fan parade. The Englishman stressed that the stadium, training ground and other facilities are absolutely fantastic. It's even more frustrating when the atmosphere is so bad for eight of the best players in the world. While French Open champion Iga Swiatek said she was able to enjoy the match in slightly quieter conditions, the empty stands were hardly in line with the Saudi regime's expectations.

However, this is not the first time a sporting event in Saudi Arabia has faced a lack of fans. The stands were nearly empty when the world's best snooker players played the Masters in Riyadh in September.

A year ago, Saudi Arabia already hosted the annual tennis finals. The top U21 players of the year, including Switzerland's Dominic Stricker, competed in the ATP Next Gen finals in Jeddah. But even so, there was little public interest in the Games—until organizers responded.

According to the Daily Herald, paying “fans” were quickly brought in to brighten the atmosphere in the hall. About 700 extras sat for four hours and were paid 100 Saudi riyals, about 23 francs. All they have to do is sit there and follow tennis etiquette and remain calm.

Who knows, maybe the stadium for the WTA finals in Riyadh will suddenly and magically be packed again in the coming days.