Saudi Arabia wants to further increase its influence in tennis – and makes an immoral offer
Two billion US dollars for even more influence: In the tug-of-war for power in tennis, Saudi Arabia has apparently ignited the next stage – and presented an immoral offer. According to a report, the desert state wants to unite the ATP and WTA Tours, and no price seems to be too high for the kingdom with its almost inexhaustible sovereign wealth fund PIF. It would be a revolution – and the next exclamation mark from the Saudis on their planned path to becoming the center of world sport.
According to the British Telegraph, ATP chief Andrea Gaudenzi told the organizers of the Masters tournaments in Indian Wells on Saturday that the PIF had made an offer that “will expire if it is not accepted within the next 90 days”. It’s an aggressive attempt by the Kingdom to gain control of the tours.
ATP open to lucrative offers from Saudi Arabia
In a statement provided to Sportinformationsdienst, the WTA announced that it was examining the offer and also proposals from the Grand Slam organizers for the future: “There is not yet a consensus within the sport on a preferred outcome.”
It is well known that at least the ATP is open to lucrative offers from Saudi Arabia. It was only at the end of February that the players’ union announced a “multi-year strategic partnership” with the kingdom, making the PIF the official partner of the ATP rankings as well as the tournaments in Indian Wells, Miami, Madrid, Beijing, the ATP Finals at the end of the season in Turin and the Next Gen ATP Finals in Jeddah – merging the tours would be the next stage in the collaboration.
But there are also headwinds. One aspect of the Saudi push is apparently to host a Masters tournament in the first week of the season – this place in the tour calendar is currently (still) occupied by the United Cup in Australia. “I’ve never seen the PIF interest in a negative light. I’ve always seen it in a positive light. But as a sport, we shouldn’t do something that negatively impacts a long-standing partner in the sport,” Tennis Australia boss Craig Tiley emphasized back in January.
Saudi Arabia is taking over more and more tournaments
The season opener is traditionally held Down Under in preparation for the Australian Open. “The discussion we want to have is where is the opportunity for everyone where we can all co-exist,” said Tiley. However, coexistence is not enough for the Saudis. The desert state, which is highly controversial due to its devastating human rights situation, has been investing in sport for years and is taking over more and more events and tournaments in soccer, golf and boxing.
In tennis, at least the Grand Slam tournaments should not be part of the agreement and remain independent, but the kingdom has already brought the best players on the tour behind it. For example, 22-time major champion Rafael Nadal acts as an ambassador for the Saudi Tennis Association, and in October five Grand Slam winners will play in a show tournament in Riyadh. And with the unlimited money reserves, the Saudis’ progressive takeover of power seems almost unstoppable
