Hosting the WTA finals in Saudi Arabia could help bring about change for gender equality and LGBTQ rights in the kingdom, said Coco Gauff, although the former US Open champion added that she still had some reservations.

Riyadh will host the season finale from 2024 to 2026, involving the top eight singles players and doubles teams, replacing last year's host Cancun, Mexico. This year's WTA Finals will take place from November 2nd to 9th.

The WTA has received criticism for the move, with greats Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova expressing their opposition.

“I'm obviously very aware of the situation here in Saudi Arabia. In my opinion, sports can open doors for people,” Gauff told reporters on Friday. “This is the first women’s professional tennis event to be held here. The WTA has committed to supporting the Future Stars program here in Saudi Arabia over the next three years and introducing more Saudi women particularly into the sport.”

“I think their goal is to have a million people playing tennis here by 2030. Hopefully then people will see us and see what we represent and hopefully that will lead to more equality.”

Saudi Arabia has invested heavily in high-profile sporting events and professional teams in recent years, from soccer to golf to Formula 1, although critics, including women's rights groups and members of the LGBTQ community, have accused the kingdom of using its public investment funds to boost its investment Human rights record “too washed out in sport”.

The country denies allegations of human rights abuses and says it protects its national security through its laws.

“I would be lying to you if I said I had no reservations. They know who I am and what I'm talking about. I was there on pretty much every player call I could make in the WTA,” said Gauff. “One of the things I said: 'When we come here, we can't just come here, play our tournament and then leave. We have to have a real program, a real plan.'

“We spoke to many women here in Saudi Arabia, and one of them was Princess Reema Bandar Al-Saud (the first female Saudi ambassador to the US). … One of the questions I asked was about LGBTQ issues and … women's rights issues and how we can help with that.

The world No.3 said she wanted to see for herself whether progress had been made, adding: “If I felt unwell or felt like nothing was happening, I probably wouldn't come back.”

Gauff will face fellow American Jessica Pegula in her opening match of the WTA Finals on Sunday.