The Push for the Saudi Arabia Tennis Tournament

By Will Brown Contributor Updated: 20 September 2024

Will Brown Contributor

William Brown is a Content Writer with strong expertise in US and global gambling industry trends. Having covered the local sports betting market since the repeal of PASPA in 2018, William approaches his gambling guides with passion and diligence. He is a keen player of online slots, blackjack, and a regular sports bettor.

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Saudia Arabia Tennis Tournament

In recent years, Saudi Arabia has been trying to establish itself as a global sporting destination by hosting a range of prestigious events. The latest topic of conversation for an expanded sporting culture in the region is the proposal for a Saudi Arabia tennis tournament that would be officially recognized by the ATP and WTA. In this guide, we’ve taken a close look at the kingdom’s prospects for a new tournament, as well as its previous iterations of major tennis events.

Intro to the Saudi Tennis Tournament Topic

Before we get into the latest plans to launch a new Saudi Arabia tennis championship event, we have looked at the recent tennis events that have showcased the kingdom’s abilities as hosts. We have then shared the details about the proposal including details on where it currently stands.

After this, we’ve looked at the implications for the Saudi economy if a new tournament was approved. It’s worth noting that not all in the tennis community are excited by this, so we’ve discussed some of the reactions. To round out the guide, we’ve looked at other sports that have attracted Saudi investment and their impact.

The Rise of Saudi Tennis
About the Proposed Tournament
The Economic and Social Implications
Reactions From the Tennis Community
Saudi Arabia’s Sports Investments

The Rise of Saudi Arabia Tennis

Before we can discuss the details of the newly proposed Saudi Arabia tennis tournament, it’s best to look at some recent events that have shown the kingdom to be a big player in the sport. In recent years, there has been a growing push to see the WTA and ATP organizations merged and for a refined year-long events calendar.

One proposal would see an additional Masters 1,000 event added to the calendar to make a total of 10 events in the ATP Tour. The sport may require significant investment if this were to happen, which is where Saudi Arabia would come in. This year, the kingdom has already been announced as the host for the WTA Finals between 2024 and 2026.

In addition to this, the nation is to host the Next Gen ATP Finals, which would end the season for the top under-21 players in the world. These two achievements were the result of an intense bidding process and campaigning, and it’s clear that it’s not done.

About the Proposed Tennis Tournament

In March, the ATP invited several nations to make a bid for the new Masters 1,000 event, and Saudi Arabia was quick to reveal that its intentions were serious. In a move that shocked the sporting world, Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) announced a $2 billion bid to fund the merging of the ATP and WTA Tours.

This would combine the men’s and women’s circuits into one organization, which would undoubtedly have major impacts on how the sport is organized and the Grand Slams. The proposal seeks to rebrand the newly merged tours as the PIF Tour and would award equal prize money to female athletes.

It would also unify the media and data rights of both tours and seeks to launch the tennis season with a Masters 1,000 event in Saudi Arabia. This would push back the schedule of the Australian-hosted tournaments. Interestingly, this may not concern the tour, as the proposal makes no mention of the Grand Slams.

These include the Australian Open, US Open, Wimbledon, and French Open. If the merger were to go ahead, the future of these historic tournaments could be in doubt. Many officials for these tournaments oppose the bid and rather support a Premium Tour model that unites men’s and women’s tennis into one equal competition.

If Saudi Arabia is successful, a Saudi tennis tournament is unlikely to be launched until at least 2027. It is also unlikely that the event will be held in the first week of Australia, as this would be considered hostile to Tennis Australia, which hosts the mixed-gendered United Cup team competition in the lead-up to the Australian Open.

Why Would Saudi Arabia Want a Tennis Tournament

There are several reasons that Saudi Arabia may be looking to acquire the major tennis organizations. The first revolves around “sportswashing”, which is when a government uses a major sports event to improve its international reputation. The kingdom has been long criticized for its human rights abuses which are often state-funded.

It is also likely a part of its broader plan to diversify its economy away from oil. Of course, the nation denies this and claims that its investment is part of an attempt to grow participation among its population. In any case, knowing the trajectory of the sport is essential for those who wager on the sport through the top US tennis betting apps.

One of the biggest implications of the proposed Saudi Arabia tennis tournament and merger is that the question of a united men’s and women’s tournament would be solved. Currently, there seems to be little progress on a united tour, with the proposed Premium Tour derided by many as being unfeasible.

Economically, Saudi Arabia’s vast financial resources in the PIF would ensure that the sport has the funding it needs to evolve. That said, it would also leave the future of the sport in the hands of a state-controlled entity, which could see the tournament misused for political gain.

For example, the athletes may have to align with the Kingdom’s values or risk expulsion, which would defeat the egalitarian nature of the sport. As for the local economic impacts, the kingdom is hoping that its investments in Saudi Arabia tennis will boost tourism to the region and attract more investment in its infrastructure.

Reactions From the Tennis Community

While the Saudi tennis tournament bid was announced in mid-March 2024, the reaction to the proposal continues to cause ripples throughout the tennis community, with some coming out in support and others in strong opposition. In this section, we’ve looked at the two sides of the argument and why they feel how they feel.

Support for the Merger

Perhaps the biggest supporter of a Saudi Arabia tennis tournament is Rafael Nadal, the world number 1 player who is currently a spokesperson for the Saudi Tennis Federation. While he hasn’t yet been vocal about his support for the move, his position and statements regarding Saudi progress suggest that he’s on board.

It is unclear how sizable the support is, though, with many players choosing to remain silent when pressed on the topic. It is likely that many are lured by the promise of a more cohesive format and less physically taxing schedule, as well as the increased prizes for female athletes.

Criticisms and Opposition

When it comes to opposition, though, many former tennis players have been forthright about their opinions. Both Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova contributed to an opinion piece in The Washington Post that voiced concerns about Saudi Arabia’s track record regarding women’s rights and the criminalization of LGBTQ communities.

Current women’s player Daria Kasatkina has voiced this sentiment, saying that she wouldn’t feel comfortable visiting the kingdom with her girlfriend. Another tennis legend who has voiced opposition to the Saudi Arabia tennis new tournament is John McEnroe, who highlighted problems with the LIV golf tournament as emblematic of his concerns.

Trend of Saudi Arabia’s Sports Investments

In addition to the Saudi Arabia tennis tournament, the PIF has invested a considerable amount of money into international sporting events over the past three years. It is estimated that more than $6 billion has been spent in an effort to boost its reputation, with much of this on the LIV golf tournament.

This tournament shook up the golf world in a huge way, and while it was originally resisted by the PGA Tour, soon paid an undisclosed amount to unify the team. Another major record-setting bid saw the nation offer more than $300 million to acquire French national soccer captain Kylian Mbappé to a local club.

The PIF purchased the Newcastle United English soccer team in October 2021 and was criticized for changing the colors of its away kit to match that of the Saudi national team. The PIF has also spent billions on football sponsorships, including majority stakes in local football teams, with Al-Nassr paying Cristiano Ronaldo $200 million a year.

Finally, Formula 1 has also been influenced by Saudi wealth, with the PIF investing more than $500 million into McClaren.