Coco Gauff’s ex-coach Brad Gilbert has expressed his displeasure about the ATP and WTA year-end championships going with colors as group names. Amid the ongoing 2024 WTA Finals, the American coach urged that the players’ groups be named after the legends of the game.
The inaugural edition of the WTA Finals in Riyadh is underway (November 2–9). The singles lineup includes Aryna Sabalenka, Iga Swiatek, Coco Gauff, Jasmine Paolini, Elena Rybakina, Jessica Pegula, Zheng Qinwen, and Barbora Krejcikova.
Gauff, Swiatek, Pegula, and Krejcikova are drawn in the Orange Group, while the rest are placed in the Purple Group. Coco Gauff’s ex-coach Gilbert, though, isn’t sold on the naming of the groups. Taking to X, the veteran, who has previously coached the likes of Andre Agassi and Andy Roddick, wrote:
It should be noted that in the recent past (2022), the groups for the WTA Finals event held in Fort Worth, Texas, were called Tracy Austin and Nancy Richey, honoring the former American tennis players. However, opting for colors has been the usual practice. Meanwhile, the singles and doubles champion’s trophies are named after Billie Jean King and Martina Navratilova, respectively.
Over the years, the ATP Finals recognized the likes of Andre Agassi, Pete Sampras, Boris Becker, and Ivan Lendl while naming the groups. 2019 was the most recent edition to do so. However, the eight qualified men are divided into red and green groups since 2021.
Brad Gilbert Criticizes Color-Based Group Names at WTA Finals, Advocates for Naming After Tennis Legends
Coco Gauff’s former coach, Brad Gilbert, has recently voiced his dissatisfaction with the ATP and WTA year-end championships’ choice of using colors for group names. Amidst the ongoing 2024 WTA Finals in Riyadh, which runs from November 2 to November 9, Gilbert urged tournament organizers to honor tennis legends by naming player groups after iconic figures rather than defaulting to simple color labels. This has reignited a conversation about tradition, legacy, and the ways in which tennis can celebrate its storied history.
The Inaugural WTA Finals in Riyadh: A Historic Event
This year’s WTA Finals marks a significant milestone, as it’s the first time the tournament is being held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. This venue change has drawn considerable attention, given Saudi Arabia’s recent investments in sports to boost its global presence in athletics and entertainment.
The WTA Finals showcases the top eight players in the world who qualify based on their season performances. For 2024, the singles lineup consists of the world’s leading tennis stars: Aryna Sabalenka, Iga Swiatek, Coco Gauff, Jasmine Paolini, Elena Rybakina, Jessica Pegula, Zheng Qinwen, and Barbora Krejcikova.
As the tournament kicked off, the players were divided into two groups for the round-robin stage. Gauff, Swiatek, Pegula, and Krejcikova are placed in the Orange Group, while Sabalenka, Paolini, Rybakina, and Zheng make up the Purple Group. This division has sparked discussion, not only for the caliber of talent each group holds but also due to the choice of using colors instead of names associated with the sport’s legends.
Gilbert’s Take: A Call for Greater Respect to Tennis Icons
Brad Gilbert, known not only for coaching legends like Andre Agassi and Andy Roddick but also for his engaging commentary and insights, took to social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to express his dissatisfaction. In a post, Gilbert stated that the choice to use colors for the group names felt impersonal and lacking in tribute to tennis history.
Gilbert’s suggestion? Return to naming groups after legendary figures in tennis. By doing so, he argues, the tournaments could foster a greater sense of legacy and respect for past champions, encouraging players and fans alike to recognize and honor those who paved the way for the modern game.
This is not a new sentiment for Gilbert, who has long been vocal about preserving the sport’s rich history and tradition. His viewpoint aligns with a growing movement among fans and players who feel that tennis, with its unique culture and celebrated history, should be more deliberate in paying homage to those who have contributed to its legacy.
A Brief History of Group Naming in Tennis Finals
In recent years, both the ATP and WTA have alternated between naming their Finals groups after colors and after players. For instance, at the 2022 WTA Finals in Fort Worth, Texas, the groups were named after American tennis legends Tracy Austin and Nancy Richey, celebrating their contributions to women’s tennis. This choice was met with widespread approval, as fans and players appreciated the recognition of trailblazers who contributed to elevating women’s tennis on the global stage.
The trend of using colors as group names, however, has been common. Many tournaments prefer the simplicity of using color labels like “Red” and “Green,” as was the case for the ATP Finals in 2021. Prior to this, the ATP Finals had occasionally named groups after former champions, including Andre Agassi, Pete Sampras, Boris Becker, and Ivan Lendl. The most recent edition to adopt this was in 2019, showcasing the deep pool of talent that has graced the ATP Finals over the years.
While the color-based approach may be more straightforward and visually appealing for some, critics like Gilbert believe it misses an opportunity to celebrate tennis’s legacy. He sees group names as more than just identifiers; they are a means of paying homage to the sport’s champions and keeping their stories alive.
Mixed Reactions from Fans and Players
The tennis community has had mixed reactions to this debate. Some fans and commentators side with Gilbert, echoing the sentiment that group names could serve as a powerful reminder of the sport’s legacy. Naming groups after icons like Martina Navratilova, Billie Jean King, or even Steffi Graf could serve as a source of inspiration for players and a subtle history lesson for younger fans.
Conversely, others argue that using colors offers simplicity and aesthetic uniformity, making it easier for viewers, especially casual fans, to follow the tournament’s format without getting bogged down by unfamiliar names. In this perspective, color names ensure a focus on the current players rather than diverting attention to the past.
Honoring Tennis Legends Beyond Group Names
Beyond group names, tennis has other ways of acknowledging its icons. For instance, the WTA Finals trophies themselves are named after tennis legends. The singles champion’s trophy honors Billie Jean King, a pioneering figure in women’s sports, while the doubles champion’s trophy bears the name of Martina Navratilova, a nine-time Wimbledon champion. These choices emphasize the contributions these legends have made to tennis and ensure their legacies are celebrated at the sport’s most prestigious events.
The ATP has also embraced similar traditions. In addition to naming groups after legends in past tournaments, they have often named courts, trophies, and even tournaments after former greats, ensuring that names like Rod Laver and Arthur Ashe remain integral to the sport’s culture.
The Broader Debate: Tradition vs. Modernization in Tennis
The discussion around group names speaks to a larger theme in tennis: the balance between tradition and modernization. Tennis is a sport deeply rooted in tradition, but it is also in the process of evolving to cater to a broader and younger audience. The debate over group names is a microcosm of this ongoing tension between honoring the past and embracing the present.
For fans like Gilbert, preserving tennis’s heritage and educating new generations about the sport’s legends is paramount. He views the practice of naming groups after legends as one way to maintain this tradition. However, with the sport seeking to appeal to a global audience that may not have the same historical familiarity, organizers may feel that simplicity, like using colors, better suits a modern viewer’s preferences.
Moving Forward: Will the ATP and WTA Reconsider?
Gilbert’s comments have sparked a broader conversation, and it remains to be seen whether the ATP and WTA will reconsider their group-naming conventions in response. While colors may currently dominate, a return to using names of iconic players could reignite excitement and respect for the sport’s past.
In any case, Gilbert’s remarks have brought attention to an issue that, while subtle, holds significance for fans who cherish tennis’s history. As the 2024 WTA Finals continue in Riyadh, players in the Orange and Purple groups are focused on competing for one of the year’s most prestigious titles. Still, the debate over group naming serves as a reminder that even in a forward-looking sport, the past remains close at hand.
Whether future tournaments will revert to honoring tennis legends through group names or continue with the color-based tradition remains uncertain. However, Gilbert’s advocacy for tennis history is a testament to his deep respect for the game and his desire to see its legacy preserved for generations to come.