WTA YEC Riyadh 11/2 - 11/9 2024

[mmmm8]

When I went to the Casablanca tournament in 2009, they also had a crowd issue on weekdays during the earlier sessions. So, what they did was bus in high school and college students for free to fill in the seats, give them a half-day of a fieldtrip. You'd think they'd think to do something like this in Riyadh to not embarass themselves.

[Suliso]

Six slams exo is much more likely to sucees. Saudi men like sports just as much as men elsewhere.

[ponchi101]

Other than the obvious social aspects of that exo, do you think they made up for the investment?

[Suliso]

Doubt it, but they probably don't care.

[Fastbackss]

With their loss today the #1 doubles seed (Kichenok and Ostapenko) cannot advance

[ptmcmahon]

Sabalenka beats Paolini and wins the group.

Zheng beats Rybakina and sets up Paolini-Zheng for the second spot from group.

Rybakina is out.

[ti-amie]

Tuesday Order of Play

Center Court
Starts at 5:00 AM

CAN G. Dabrowski/NZL E. Routliffe (2) vs ITA S. Errani/ITA J. Paolini (4)
Followed By
USA J. Pegula (6) vs CZE B. Krejcikova (8)
Followed By
POL I. Swiatek (2) vs USA C. Gauff (3)
Followed By
USA C. Dolehide/USA D. Krawczyk (5) vs TPE H. Chan/RUS V. Kudermetova (7)

[ti-amie]

Wednesday Order of Play

Center Court
Starts at 5:00 AM

UKR L. Kichenok/LAT J. Ostapenko (1) vs USA N. Melichar-Martinez/AUS E. Perez (6)
Followed By
ITA J. Paolini (4) vs CHN Q. Zheng (7)
Followed By
BLR A. Sabalenka (1) vs KAZ E. Rybakina (5)
Followed By
TPE S. Hsieh/BEL E. Mertens (3) vs CZE K. Siniakova/USA T. Townsend (8)

[ponchi101]

Doubt it, but they probably don't care.

Oh, they certainly don't. As I said, this was for their political motives, nothing else.

[ti-amie]

[Fastbackss]

[ti-amie]

The PR around this event is horrific. The venue is small to begin with - there are pictures floating around - and still the "crowds" are non existent. They're bigger when Qinwen is playing because apparently there are a lot of Chinese nationals in the country/area and they come out to see her play. In a country where women are not allowed to leave their homes without the consent of and accompanied by a male relative how did anyone think women would en masse rise up against their families to attend a tennis match with "scantily clad" women competing in an athletic event?

It was a pure and simple money grab by Steve Simon et al and in the end the women are playing to empty seats. It's disrespectful to them.

[Suliso]

Doubt it, but they probably don't care.

Oh, they certainly don't. As I said, this was for their political motives, nothing else.

Indeed. With success I meant only that the seats will be full and TV rights sold.

[ponchi101]

Is Ben complaining about the YEC being held at MSG for 23 years, or applauding that?
I believe: BOTH tours screwed up by leaving MSG, and calling it anything other than THE MASTERS. It was so easy to promote:
THE MASTERS @ MSG.
Even good for the women.

[ashkor87]

Yes but why aren't the Saudi MEN lining up to watch the said 'scantily dressed women'?