Essayer OR - Gratuit

GAUFF WANTS TO WITNESS CHANGE

The Straits Times

|

November 03, 2024

American expects to see progress for women in Saudi Arabia from hosting of WTA Finals

GAUFF WANTS TO WITNESS CHANGE

RIYADH - Coco Gauff believes bringing the WTA Finals to Saudi Arabia can "open doors" and inspire positive change for women in the country, although the world No. 3 also admitted: "I'd be lying to you if I said I had no reservations."

The WTA Tour has signed a three-year deal with the Saudi Tennis Federation to stage its season finale in Riyadh, with the first edition kicking off at King Saud University Indoor Arena on Nov 2.

The women's tour has come under scrutiny for its decision to go to Saudi Arabia, with critics citing the conservative kingdom's poor record on freedom of expression and women's rights as reasons against the move.

Gauff, 20, admits that she had reservations about the idea of staging the WTA Finals in Saudi Arabia and wanted to see for herself what kind of progress is being made.

"Obviously I'm very aware of the situation here in Saudi," said the American star.

PLUS D'HISTOIRES DE The Straits Times

The Straits Times

The Straits Times

Sentosa Cove property prices buck mainland uptrend as loss-making deals rise

In July, a condominium unit at Marina Collection in Sentosa Cove was resold for $4.95 million, over 40 per cent below the price paid in 2008.

time to read

4 mins

November 02, 2025

The Straits Times

The Straits Times

More HDB flat owners switching to bank loans as rates drop to 3-year low

Owners spoilt for choice as banks compete to offer attractive refinancing options

time to read

4 mins

November 02, 2025

The Straits Times

TOAST TO TRADITION

Other Middle Eastern cooks, however, are sticking to their guns, even though marketing their food as Turkish or Lebanese might not immediately ring a bell with diners looking for an approximate rundown of the Middle East’s greatest hits.

time to read

2 mins

November 02, 2025

The Straits Times

RECOVER

Post-workout recovery is the new wellness, with at least 10 new spaces offering ice baths and saunas - and a place to socialise

time to read

7 mins

November 02, 2025

The Straits Times

WILL POGACAR BECOME CYCLING'S G.O.A.T?

After a season spent demolishing and demoralising his rivals, Tadej Pogacar has the cycling world pondering about his place in the peloton of greats.

time to read

5 mins

November 02, 2025

The Straits Times

The Straits Times

New resources to help parents guide children's digital habits

At the start of the year, Mr Aaron Ho and his wife made the tough choice to take away their teenage son's smartphone after his grades began to slip.

time to read

3 mins

November 02, 2025

The Straits Times

Two young editors have worked to posthumously publish In The Mirror: New And Selected Poems Of Wong Phui Nam

Up until the hours before he died at 87 on Sept 26, 2022, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysian poet Wong Phui Nam was fiddling restlessly with two manuscripts, making minute revisions to lines from six decades ago and compiling a collection of new poems he had titled In The Mirror.

time to read

3 mins

November 02, 2025

The Straits Times

Be fair on fixture crowding: Arteta

Arsenal have opposed Crystal Palace’s request to reschedule their League Cup quarterfinal to Dec 23, with manager Mikel Arteta saying it would be unfair for both teams to play twice in barely 48 hours.

time to read

2 mins

November 02, 2025

The Straits Times

The Straits Times

MASTEROFMYUNIVERSE TO RULE

5 Masterofmyuniverse resumed with a solid effort for seventh behind Tomodachi Kokoroe, finishing off strongly.

time to read

1 min

November 02, 2025

The Straits Times

New satellite images suggest mass killings continue in Sudan's El-Fasher

New satellite imagery suggests that mass killings are likely continuing in and around the Sudanese city of El-Fasher, Yale researchers said, days after it fell to the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

time to read

1 mins

November 02, 2025

Listen

Translate

Share

-
+

Change font size