A professional tennis player has expressed her frustration, admitting she feels “salty” about the fact that Wives and Girlfriends (WAGs) of athletes are securing lucrative brand deals, seemingly more often than “actual athletes”.
Daria Saville, 31, did not name any individuals but her comments reflect a wider discussion about the visibility and endorsement opportunities within tennis.
Figures like Morgan Riddle, the girlfriend of world No. 4 Taylor Fritz, have indeed risen to prominence, capitalizing on sponsorships and brand collaborations.
Riddle, 27, is known for her vlogs documenting life on the tennis tour, making it accessible to a younger audience of fans.
She has amassed a significant following with over 435,000 followers on Instagram and 590,000 on TikTok. Riddle has also been featured in Vogue and launched her own jewelry line.
Saville acknowledged that she “loves” Riddle`s videos but openly confessed her annoyance that influencers often receive more attention than professional athletes.
The Australian player, who previously represented Russia until 2015, believes that while there is “surely space for both Wags and female tennis players,” it is the athletes who “always get left out” when it comes to brand deals.
In a TikTok video, she stated, “Let’s talk brand deals for a second.”
“Tennis aesthetics are in right now, right?”
“Brands are choosing Wags over actual athletes… why?”
“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, who once reached a world ranking of 20 but is currently at No. 108, suggests it is understandable that companies might prefer to associate with those in the limelight of major tournaments, whether top players or their partners.
Riddle, for instance, gained TV exposure during Fritz`s journey to the US Open final and quarter-final appearances at the Australian Open and Wimbledon.
However, Saville added, “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?”
“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-boggling to me that brands are picking influencers 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 came across salty AF. I’m done here.”
On the other hand, Riddle has also spoken about the downsides of being a tennis WAG.
She has recounted concerning incidents, including an attempted kidnapping, injuries from electrocution, and burglaries at Airbnbs.
