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Saudi Arabia has secured a new Tennis Masters tournament. Despite the players’ complaints about the high level of stress, the ATP apparently has no concerns whatsoever. The sheikhs’ steady flow of money has had its effect. A comment.
This decision by the ATP certainly did not come as a surprise. Have had for several years insider speculated that Saudi Arabia, due to its ever-increasing financial commitment through the Public Investment Fund PIF (amount of around 1.15 trillion dollars) is awarded its own tournament in professional tennis. Last year the Saudis are said to have offered two billion dollars for ATP and WTA tournaments in the second category.
An enormous financial scope, which has now caught: So it has become a tournament in the category 1000, i.e. just below the prestige events of the Grand Slams (Australian Open, Roland Garros, Wimbledon, US Open).
The sheikhs certainly wouldn’t have been satisfied with anything less. They have worked towards this for years – and have gradually broken down the ATP’s structures, which had been held in place for so long, through ever-increasing inflows of money and influence.
Freedom of choice only for appearances
The amount of money that they have pumped into the system has apparently changed the minds of even the last doubters. In recent years, the Saudis have gotten deeper and deeper into the tennis business and have gained enormous status. From 2028 onwards there will be ten of these premium tennis events in one year. A circumstance that would have been almost unthinkable before the PIF got involved.
There have been nine Masters tournaments in the ATP calendar for 35 years, all of which are mandatory events for professionals. For the tenth tournament in Saudi Arabia (no date or venue has been set yet) there should be freedom of choice – at least in theory.
The result is a waiver of smaller tournaments
If you look closely, no professional who takes his job seriously should miss out on this additional point and source of income. The constantly recurring discussions about the excessive stress on the players are likely to play a minor role.
To compensate for their health, the top players will in future forego more tournaments in the 250 category, where they are not required to play during the season. This will certainly have an impact on the attractiveness of the smaller events. Many tournament directors are likely to spend restless nights in view of the ATP decision.
Another tool from the Saudis
Questions about possible sportswashing – Saudi Arabia wants to distract from the blatant human rights violations in the country with glossy sporting events – have almost disappeared from the attention of the broader world public in view of Saudi Arabia’s involvement in global sport. And these aspects no longer seem to play a major role at the ATP.
In addition to golf, football, motor sports and e-sports, to name just a few PIF sports, tennis is just another tool for the Saudis to improve their image and develop new business models.
The ATP seems to be attacking without inhibitions and greedily – and the sheikhs’ concept is once again a success.