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Women's Tennis Player Has Major Problem With Popular WAGs

Originally posted on The Spun | By Tzvi Machlin | Last updated Apr 4, 2025 3:28 PM ET

There seems to be some controversy in tennis brewing behind the scenes as it relates to the sport's relationship with wives and girlfriends (WAGs).

In a recent video on TikTok, former No. 20 world tennis star Daria Seville expressed frustration with how tennis WAGs appear to be getting brand deals instead of the actual athletes.

“Let’s talk brand deals for a second. Tennis aesthetics are in right now, right?” Saville said. “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.”

@dasha_tofu
Surely there is space for both WAGs and female tennis players, but I feel like we always get left out
♬ original sound - Daria Saville

Seville explained that she's spoken to some WAGS, who admitted their own surprise that they get more deals than some tennis stars. She asked why it is that marketers seem to find the WAGs more compelling brand models than the athletes themselves. Seville admitted that she may be feeling "salty" but wants to understand the situation better.

“I’ve spoken to a few influencer WAGs, and they’re surprised that we don’t get the same opportunities,” she said.

“Is it that athletes are not as relatable as WAGs to the audience?" she wondered. “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 picking 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.”

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 12: Daria Saville of Australia reacts while playing against Anna Blinkova of Russia during the first round on Day 1 of the 2025 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 12, 2025 in Melbourne, Australia (Photo by Robert Prange/Getty Images)Robert Prange/Getty Images

It's an interesting question but one that's probably a lot less difficult to answer - just not in a way she probably wants.

The answer to most of her questions is probably "yes." Marketing teams probably feel that tennis is niche compared to the life of a WAG, they do want to market for the glamor life as opposed to the athlete's life and they probably don't care about being more inspirational than simply marketable.

Do you think the answers would be any different?

This article first appeared on The Spun and was syndicated with permission.

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