The potential for Saudi Arabia to increase its involvement in tennis has gained momentum, with reports suggesting that the nation has made a significant $2 billion offer to merge the ATP and WTA tours. This proposal could potentially reshape the landscape of professional tennis and has sparked discussions within the tennis community about the implications of such a merger.
During the Premium Tour discussions in Indian Wells last Saturday, ATP chairman Andrea Gaudenzi called for a separate meeting with the Masters tournaments after the departure of the four grand slams. During this meeting, Gaudenzi briefed them on an offer from Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), which is reported to be time-sensitive, with a 90-day expiration period if not accepted. It’s worth noting that, at present, the four grand slams are not included in this offer from the PIF.
The proposal put forth by the Public Investment Fund (PIF) includes the addition of a Masters 1000 tournament in Saudi Arabia during the first week of the tennis season. This idea aligns with ATP chairman Andrea Gaudenzi’s previous advocacy for such an event during the preceding summer. However, the notion faced strong opposition from Craig Tiley, the Tennis Australia boss, who oversees the United Cup team event scheduled in the same slot in the calendar. Under the proposed new model, a Saudi Masters event would inaugurate the tennis year, while it’s widely known that the WTA has been planning to host their finals in Riyadh in early November. Consequently, the revamped tennis calendar, envisionedas the PIF Tour, would commence and conclude with visits to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
The involvement of the Public Investment Fund (PIF) in tennis aligns with Saudi Arabia’s ongoing trend of investing in sports. Recently, the nation made headlines by appointing 22-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal as their official tennis ambassador. Additionally, Saudi Arabia has made substantial investments in the realms of golf and racing, further solidifying its presence in the global sports landscape.