After controversy over seeming lack of WTA Finals 2024 gala, Ellen Perez clears the air on plans for Iga Swiatek, Coco Gauff & other stars in Riyadh
Recently, controversy erupted over whether Iga Swiatek, Coco Gauff, Aryna Sabalenka and the other stars at the 2024 WTA Finals would get to enjoy a traditional gala dinner at this year's event. However, Australian doubles star Ellen Perez has issued a clarification about what's in store for the players in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
The action at the WTA Finals is set to commence on November 2, with Swiatek and Sabalenka engaging in a fierce battle for the year-end World No. 1 ranking, while the likes of Gauff and Rybakina attempt to win their maiden title at the year-end championships.
After the draw ceremony for the singles and doubles events on October 29, there was an outcry from fans about the seeming lack of a formal gala, which has been a staple of previous editions.
For instance, the draw ceremony at the 2023 WTA Finals in Cancun was held with significantly more fanfare, as Iga Swiatek, Coco Gauff, Aryna Sabalenka and other players stepped out in glamorous dresses and posed in a fun beach photoshoot before attending a celebratory dinner.
As fans continued to raise their complaints on social media, Ellen Perez, who's competing in doubles at the year-end championships, disclosed that a photoshoot is set to take place on Thursday, October 31, with a relaxed gala dinner to follow.
"Yea, on Thursday, we have a photo shoot during the day, and then how I understand it a more relaxed gala dinner," she posted on X.
Given the timing gap between the scheduled photoshoot and the gala, Perez also suggested that the dinner may not be the most glamorous affair, as players would likely change out of their formal dresses.
"Well the photo shoot we are doing in dresses. The dinner I’m not sure if anyone will continue to wear there dresses or not. It’s a few hours later after the photo shoot so it would make sense people go back to hotel and change," she added.
Iga Swiatek drawn in same group as Coco Gauff at WTA Finals 2024; Aryna Sabalenka up against Elena Rybakina
World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka and defending champion Iga Swiatek lead the Purple Group and Orange Group, respectively, at the 2024 WTA Finals in Riyadh. Sabalenka will battle it out against Jasmine Paolini, Elena Rybakina and Zheng Qinwen for a place in the semi-finals of the prestigious event.
Swiatek, meanwhile, will face tough competition from Coco Gauff, Jessica Pegula and Barbora Krejcikova in her group. The Pole clinched her maiden title at the year-end championships last year, beating Pegula 6-1, 6-0 in the final and securing the year-end World No. 1 ranking.
Aryna Sabalenka holds the advantage heading into her battle with Iga Swiatek for the year-end No. 1, as she will seal the honor if she wins all three round-robin matches.
If the Pole loses one match in the group stage, Sabalenka will only need two wins to hold on to the World No. 1 ranking. Meanwhile, the Belarusian will require just one win at the prestigious event if Swiatek suffers losses in two round-robin matches.