Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) has rejected claims that it is trying to disrupt the tennis scene with a potential £1.5bn ($2bn) bid to merge ATP and WTA Tours. The ATP’s chairman, Andrea Gaudenzi, allegedly informed representatives of the nine ATP Masters 1000 tournaments at a recent gathering in California about the proposal, noting it to be “time-sensitive” with a 90-day acceptance period. However, the PIF declined to comment on such rumours and sources argued that any offer deadlines are not confirmed whilst continuing discussions are taking place with various entities within the sport.
Saudi sources emphasised that the intention was not to “purchase” tennis but rather to integrate within its existing infrastructure. This follows the PIF’s recent strategic alliance with the ATP Tour, highlighting Saudi’s keen interest in sports investment. Consequently, ATP rankings and end-of-year top player accolades will be named after the PIF. The PIF is also set to feature with on-court marketing at significant ATP 1000 events across Indian Wells, Miami, Madrid, and Beijing, as well as at the Turin ATP Finals.
Contrasting its disruption of golf via the PIF-funded LIV Golf Series, Saudi Arabia aims to foster a supportive partnership with tennis, working alongside its existing governance to encourage sport involvement among its local inhabitants. Both the WTA and ATP tours’ end-of-season finals are projected to be held in Saudi Arabia, a move that not all in the sport have supported, including Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova.
The Telegraph’s report revealed that the planned agreement with PIF could result in Saudi Arabia hosting a Masters 1000 tournament at the start of the season. This would potentially rival the United Cup team competition that takes place in Australia before the Australian Open, an idea that Tennis Australia’s Craig Tiley has reportedly been ‘strongly opposing’.
So far, the four grand slams have not agreed on a new ‘Premium Tour’ model that would bring together male and female tennis and offer equal salaries, despite ongoing talks between the ATP and WTA tours about a possible amalgamation. — Guardian