Last week, world No. 7 Taylor Fritz and social media influencer Morgan Riddle officially split after their highly publicized, nearly six-year relationship. The sudden end of the sport’s popular couple has led to more than just gossip.
It has sparked a debate about the modern culture of wives and girlfriends (WAGs) on the professional tennis tour. Former pro Kim Clijsters and journalist Blair Henley shared their thoughts on the same, taking a closer look at high-profile relationships, such as the one between Tommy Paul and his fiancée, Paige Lorenze.
What Kim Clijsters and Blair Henley Said About Taylor Fritz, Morgan Riddle, and WAG Culture
WAG culture is common in many sports for its entertainment value, and it has taken on a life of its own in tennis as well. Fritz and Riddle first met on the exclusive celebrity dating app Raya in 2020. Over their nearly six-year relationship, Riddle became a constant presence in Fritz’s player box.
By attending matches around the globe, she could leverage her courtside access to build a lifestyle brand. Riddle took fans behind the scenes on TikTok with captions like “make tennis cool again,” and after starring alongside Fritz in the hit Netflix docuseries “Break Point,” her popularity skyrocketed.
Fritz has been highly supportive of her, consistently defending her brand-building. “I think what she does is awesome for our sport,” he said in 2022.
However, it all came to a sudden end last week. Riddle confirmed the shock breakup to her followers by posting cryptic photos of herself moving into a new apartment in New York City while wearing a “World’s Best Ex-Girlfriend” T-shirt.
During the recent episode of the “Love All” podcast with Clijsters, tennis commentator Henley defended this modern influencer trend, arguing that creators like Riddle provide a marketing boost to a sport actively trying to attract younger fans.
“I think Morgan absolutely did bring in a new demographic,” Henley explained. “She got eyes on the sport of tennis that might not otherwise be there.”
Henley also pointed out that Paul’s partner for four years and fiancée, Lorenze, has had the same impact.
“It’s the same effect we see with Paige Lorenze,” Henley continued. “You’ll see fans at tournaments tagging them in their outfits or saying things like, ‘I’m just here to see Morg’s boyfriend,’ or, in Paige’s case, ‘I’m just here to see Paige’s boyfriend.’ That visibility is bringing in new eyeballs. I thought it was great. If you’re going to be at these tournaments anyway, why not build something?”
But Clijsters offered a different perspective. As a former world No. 1 and four-time Grand Slam singles champion, Clijsters represents a traditional era of the sport where the sole focus was on the game.
“I wonder, though… for a lot of these guys, does it feel a little weird?” Clijsters asked during the discussion. “If they take the sport seriously, do they worry if these women are just there because they want a career in the spotlight or to grow their social media?”
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There is no denying that influencers like Riddle and Lorenze have brought more audience into the tennis world; however, Clijsters’ comments can leave us wondering where the line is drawn between a supportive partner and an influencer.
Meanwhile, Fritz has been sidelined due to knee tendinitis. He is expected to target the remaining clay-court events or wait until the grass-court season as a better choice. Paul had an early exit in Madrid in the Round of 64 after being defeated by Thiago Agustín Tirante (7-5, 6-4), and is set to enter the Rome Masters.
