Tennis, the Saudi Fund sponsors the ATP

So it’s official, ATP and PIF, the Public Investment Fund (PIF) of Saudi Arabia are joining in a multi-year partnership. The agreement was announced through a joint statement which does not specifically talk about dates and figures but about the first effects of the union created to “Improve world tennis for players, fans, tournament organizers and interested parties at all levels of this sport”. In practice, at the moment, PIF will sponsor the ATP Tour events in Indian Wells, Miami, Madrid, Beijing as well as the Next Gen ATP Finals, hosted in Jeddah until 2027. The ATP ranking, then, officially takes the name of PIF ATP Rankings. At the end of the season at the Finals in Turin, the first in the ranking will be crowned Year-End No. 1, presented by PIF. Massimo Calvelli, CEO of ATP, said: “Our strategic partnership marks an important moment for tennis. It is a shared commitment to promote the future of the sport. With PIF’s dedication to the next generation, promoting innovation and creating opportunities for all, the stage is set for a new period of progress and transformation.”

THE MAXI EXHIBITION

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After football and golf, here is a turn to tennis too. After having obtained the organization of the Next Gen ATP Finals, which cannot be said to have been a great success with the public, the Saudis are now aiming much higher by flooding the circuit with dollars. In October, on a date and with a format yet to be specified, a maxi exhibition is scheduled in which Jannik Sinner will also take part together with Carlos Alcaraz, Novak Djokovic, Rafa Nadal, Daniil Medvedev and Holger Rune. Prizes that would reach six million dollars for the victory and nine-figure figures also for the “placed” ones. Rafa Nadal has already signed an agreement to become “ambassador of Saudi tennis” specifying that it is not about money, while it seems that Carlos Alcaraz will soon also sign an agreement with Saudi.