DIRIYAH — The star-studded Diriyah Tennis Cup field of International tennis players were really happy to be the ones that will be making history during the draw of the event on Wednesday.

The draw, conducted by the players alongside Prince Abdulaziz Bin Turki Al Faisal, chairman of the General Sports Authority (GSA), was made at the stunning Diriyah Arena.

The players, after the draw, let their feelings be known with some candid and super statements.

Gael Monfils: I decided to come here because of the history. I think it is a historical event and to be part of such a great event for the first time is very special. I think the tournament is very inspirational for the people. I am sure it will be a great show for the fans if they see the best of the best players here in Diriyah. Every player is great and here are the best of the best players. It will be tough and I don’t know who will be the winner. This arena is so big and so beautiful and to be honest: I can’t wait to play my first match tomorrow and feel the great atmosphere. Stan and I we are great friends and I think it will be a lot of fun.

Jan-Lennard Struff: I´m positively surprised about Saudi Arabia. The people are very friendly. I arrived last Wednesday and had a great practice session. It´s not a lucky draw for me. Daniil was for sure the best player in the second half of 2019 and it will be a very hard fight.

Stan Wawrinka: The court is great. I trained today in the morning. It’s hard to compare with other courts and I have to wait, how the circumstances will change when we play at night. But it’s a great arena. I visited Saudi Arabia a few months ago and there were nothing here. It´s really impressive what they’ve built in a very short amount of time.

David Goffin: The weather is perfect, not too hot and today I had a lot of fun here. It is very nice to discover another culture and a different country. I have never been here before and it is very great to be part of this event! It is the first time we have professional tennis players and such an event here. I’m very happy to be here in this beautiful arena. I´ve visited the Belgium embassy. It was a very good atmosphere and it was really nice to meet some Belgium people here in Riyadh.

Daniil Medvedev: All of the players are very strong and tough. I don’t feel any pressure, I am just excited to be here and really looking forward to tomorrow. It is really exciting here and a completely new experience. Things are changing here in Saudi Arabia and this tennis tournament shows this. It’s very great playing here for the first time and be part of it. I think it will be a great match versus Struff tomorrow and a very special moment, he’s talented.

John Isner: I really like it here. The weather is great, we have nice clothes. The local organization is very professional. It began with the very warm welcome and we are feeling very good here. It is a beautiful court, a beautiful stadium and I think I could not ask for a better venue for this tournament. All players are very happy to be here. My preparations were very well, but I think it will be very tough because everybody has trained very hard.

Fabio Fognini: It’s my first time here in Riyadh and I just arrived yesterday. My training was very good and at the moment it all looks very good and everything is going the perfect way. I am really looking forward to play in front of the crowd here. The line-up is really tough, every player is strong – so it will be difficult for everyone. But it is very nice to play here in another country! — SG