Former top-20 tennis star Daria Saville has blasted influencer WAGS’ bigger brand popularity over ‘actual athletes’ and has sounded the alarm that the actual professionals don’t get the same opportunities.
Saville, who is currently ranked No 108 in the world, self-described her attitude in missing out on brand deals compared to influencers as ‘salty’ during a recent TikTok video.
The 31-year-old Australian did not name any influencers specifically. However, the implication of tennis WAGs provokes the name Morgan Riddle at the moment, the girlfriend of American male star Taylor Fritz.
Fritz, the No 4 male in the world and highest-ranking American, has dated Riddle since 2020. Riddle herself has embraced the WAG lifestyle and has more than 430k followers on Instagram.
‘Let’s talk brand deals for a second. Tennis aesthetics are in right now, right? Brands are choosing WAGs over actual athletes… why?’ Saville said. ‘It’s all over the place, but female tennis players are not getting those brand deals. It’s actually tennis WAGs that fit into the aesthetics rather than us sweaty tennis players.’
Saville also did not try to diminish what the WAGs bring to the game, saying there is ‘surely space for both WAGs and female tennis players’ when it comes to brand deals, but she feels like the female players ‘always get left out.’
Daria Saville has blasted influencer WAGS’ bigger brand popularity over ‘actual athletes’
Saville did not call out anyone in particular, with Morgan Riddle coming to people’s minds
Saville is far down in the rankings compared to a Coco Gauff or Aryna Sabalenka, possibly making those opportunities feel more out of reach than for the partner of the No 4 male in the world.
‘I’ve spoken to a few influencer WAGs, and they’re surprised that we don’t get the same opportunities. Is it that athletes are not as relatable as WAGs to the audience?’ Saville continued.
‘… I’ve got a personality and it’s salty right now… Do marketing teams think tennis players are too niche compared to a WAG? Is that the whole glamorous life compared to sweat life? Is it more inspiration to be a WAG than a female athlete?’
‘Honestly, it’s mind blogging to me that brands are pickling influences for their campaigns during grand slams. And I’m definitely not the only female tennis player that feels that way. Marketing girls, why is that? Sorry if I cam across salty AF. I’m done here.’
Some in Saville’s comments took them as a direct reflection on Riddle, with the 16-year pro coming to the WAGs defense.
‘Okay but Morgan Riddle is much more fun than Taylor Fritz,’ one social-media user said.
‘She is! It’s true!,’ Saville retorted. ‘But both can coexist haha!! I love her vlogs!’
