But his presence was also noted Aryna Sabalenka and Zheng Qinwen, who played in the day’s first singles match. Sabalenka, who beat Zheng for a fifth time in five career meetings, received an autographed shirt as a souvenir, while Zheng’s pre-match routine was momentarily derailed when her coaches were star-struck.
Read more: Sabalenka’s wayward soccer kick plunks photographer in funny WTA Finals moment
“My team, all of my team, they had a picture with him,” Zheng said. “I was there with my fitness coach, doing some fitness, and I was there with my exercise like this, and I see, ‘Where is my team?’ Ah, OK, they’re having pictures with Neymar! What I can say?
“He’s a incredible soccer player, yeah. But I think my team more interesting to [see] him instead of watching me … do fitness.”
With seven days of play still to come at King Saud University, will other famous faces make an appearance?
