Golf has already been shaken by the enormous Saudi involvement. Is this also a threat to tennis? One thing is clear: there is also great interest in Novak Djokovic, Alexander Zverev and the other stars there.
The public attention of tennis fans is focused on the season finale of the best eight players on the ATP Tour this year. The finals in Turin (November 12th to 19th) are coming up and Novak Djokovic, Alexander Zverev and Co. are playing for record prize money of 15 million US dollars. The winner alone will receive a (Christmas) check worth around 4.8 million US dollars (4.47 million euros).
The sport of tennis has been booming (also financially) worldwide for some time and is attracting interest. So it’s no wonder that new people want to take part. “There are always organizations and people who have money and want to be involved in successful sport.”says Herwig Straka to Sportschau. The member of the ATP Board – the nine-member committee is responsible for strategic decisions for the players’ organization – sees this interest first hand.
A fifth Grand Slam tournament?
And it is hardly surprising that the name of a country is playing an increasingly influential role in the booming sport of tennis. “It is a fact that Saudi Arabia is investing in sport and tennis is one of the most important sports”said Straka. “Interest in a tournament was expressed to the ATP from Saudi Arabia and also from other regions of the world.”
How acute the issue is is reflected in the many public discussions about it. There have been repeated speculations recently that Saudi Arabia would even opt for another, then fifth Grand Slam-Competition (Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon, US Open), might be of interest. The bigger the better.
Sportwashing and next-gen finale
During the week the English daily newspaper reported “The Times“that the country will host a 1000 tournament (a category below the.) from 2025 Grand Slams) shortly before the Australian Open should be awarded in January. “There are no concrete ideas yet and we are currently talking to many interested parties“says Straka. “We also don’t close the doors from the outset because of political issues.” There has not yet been any explicit discussion about the size of tournaments.
It is undisputed that Saudi Arabia, with its involvement in top-class sport, is also engaging in so-called modern sportwashing and wants to use sport to polish up its own image and distract from controversial human rights issues. Thanks to the sovereign wealth fund PIF and its estimated reserves of $650 billion.
The Next Gen-The final of the best eight young players on the ATP tour has already been awarded to Jeddah in Saudi Arabia (November 28th to December 2nd) – probably as a first, small concession. But it can hardly be assumed that the Saudi authorities will be satisfied with this. If the Saudis had their way, this should be just the beginning.
Tennis world also turned upside down?
And so some questions arise: “We discuss this very intensively on the board: How far should we go, how far can we go?”said Straka. “Also in view of the fact that many other sports have gone to countries where there were similar discussions. Where exactly do you draw the lines in this political discussion?”
At the same time, ATP is moving in a previously unknown field of tension. Because of Saudi Arabia’s great commitment to sport with its almost endless financial resources, there seems to be a danger that golf in particular has already experienced first hand.
With the LIV, Saudi Arabia has launched its own, extremely financially strong tour in competition with the traditional PGA Tour and poached some top players – and thus turned the golf world upside down. “We believe that this is more difficult to achieve in tennis, but it is not impossible. That is the threat we are dealing with.”says Straka. A model like that in golf would be a real horror scenario for the ATP.
DTB President promotes cooperation
Also Dietloff von Arnim, President of the German Tennis Federation and recently in Cancun, Mexico board the International Tennis Federation (ITF) – which, among other things, is responsible for the Grand Slam-Tournaments and the Davis Cup responsible – sees a possible threat to the ATP and also the women’s players’ association WTA from the Saudi Arabian desires.
“I am in favor of us sitting down at the table and deciding together how we want to deal with this in the future”says von Arnim of the sports show. In the past, such decisions were often made independently. Von Arnim advocates making sustainable, joint decisions on such important issues in order to be able to show a strong stance. The great interest from Saudi Arabia is undisputed and can have far-reaching consequences.
Clear Expansion plans
The fact is: The ATP wants to take advantage of the boom and expand further. Countries in the Middle East and Asia are also currently interested in tournaments and probably have the financial means to organize them. When will the next decisions be made? There will be discussions in the background at the ATP Finals. “There is a certain time pressure, we can feel that. But as ATP we don’t set ourselves a deadline.”said Straka.