The complex issue of sportswashing has crept into almost every professional sport. Leagues and players are often torn between money, politics, diplomacy and ethical gray areas.

Perhaps no country has used sport to enhance its reputation on the world stage more than Saudi Arabia. The country has just welcomed the Six Kings Slama non-ATP exhibition that featured the top men’s players with a prize pool of $6.5 million plus an appearance fee of $1.5 million.

Many tennis players have addressed the problem and talk with a sort of resignation that Saudi Arabia will eventually get a Masters 1000 tournament. Starting tomorrow, the WTA Finals begin in Riyadh and players are asked tough questions about human rights issues in the country.

WTA world number 3 Coco Gauff receives praise from fans for her thoughtful and balanced response to the question. A journalist asked the 20-year-old “about the political issues related to coming to Saudi Arabia, its record on gender equality, LGBTQ+ issues.”

Gauff said: “Obviously I am very aware of the situation here in Saudi Arabia. I mean, my take on it is I think sports can have a way of opening doors for people. , you have to see it. I think sports, for me, I would say, is the easiest way to introduce that.

Gauff continued: “I know they’ve started bringing more men’s sports here. I know with golf and tennis, I think it’s one of the first, it’s the first event of professional women’s tennis organized here Hopefully the WTA comes here and they are committed to for the next three years, to help the future Stars program here in Saudi Arabia, to introduce more Saudi women, especially in this. sport.

Gauff added: “I think their goal is to have a million people playing tennis here by 2030. I hope with that people can see us, what we stand for, and I hope that this will create more equality. For now, if you never come here, it can never end like this. To want change, you have to see it.

But the exchange was far from over. The reporter asked: “Thinking of your fans, I’m just wondering if you personally had any reservations or concerns about coming here given the record on human rights, particularly women’s rights, but also from the LGBT+ community?”

Gauff responded bluntly: “No, I’d be lying to you if I said I don’t have any reservations. Obviously you know who I am and the things I talk about. I’ve been at pretty much every player call that I could go through with the WTA. One of the things I said, if we come here, we can’t just come here and play our tournament and leave.

Gauff explained that she wanted to do her homework: “We spoke with a lot of women here in Saudi Arabia. One of them was Princess Reema. Several calls with her, how the best approach would be to go into this different place that women have never known.” Somehow, women in the United States have never been there. I think for me it was important, and it was one of the issues that I brought up because of LGBTQ issues, women’s rights, how we can help with that.

Gauff concluded her remarks on the issue: “I am also very aware that we are not going to come here and change everything. It would be very nuanced to say. my grandmother’s past, integrating her school, people are not going to like that, but obviously, in the long term, I think it could be better for everyone.

Gauff is 48-15 with two singles titles this year. She is part of the Orange group at the WTA Finals and will face world number 6 Jessica Pegula at 8:45 a.m. EST on Sunday, November 3. Tennis fans can follow the Sports Illustrated show. Serve on IF for all the most important sports news.