- Spanish tennis star is optimistic about playing in an ATP Tour-sanctioned tournament in Saudi Arabia
- The ATP Tour started discussions with its sovereign wealth fund
- Saudi Arabia is able to give significant prizes
Spanish tennis star is optimistic about playing in an ATP Tour-sanctioned tournament in Saudi Arabia.
He said that his Gulf country has hosted a lot of sports events in the past and he is sure that there will be an ATP Tour even in the near future.
The ATP Tour started discussions with its sovereign wealth fund regarding a prospective alliance.
The Financial Times reported this week that ATP Chairman Andrea Gaudenzi had negotiations with the Public Investment Fund (PIF) of Saudi Arabia and other possible investors about initiatives involving infrastructure, events, and technological investment.
According to the news outlet, Alcaraz believes Saudi Arabia has the power to host a lot of tournaments while Gaudenzi stated that any potential investors must respect the tradition of the sport and cooperate with current stakeholders.
Carlos Alcaraz is currently ranked the World No. 1 player in men’s singles. Photo/ CNN.
Speaking post his Queens Club victory on Sunday, Alcaraz said his wish is to play in Saudia Arabia because always dreams of it.
“I’ve never played an official tournament over there. And let’s see how it is going to be in the future. But, well, I have no doubts that I’ll play over there in the future,” Tennis365 reports.
Critics have accused the PIF of being a vehicle for the country to improve its reputation as it faces criticism of its human rights record.
Saudi Arabia denies accusations of human rights abuses and says it protects its national security through its laws.
While Saudi Arabia has not hosted an ATP tournament, several top players including Daniil Medvedev and Stan Wawrinka have competed in the Diriyah Cup exhibition event, which held its second edition last year.
Talks on a potential partnership comes after the Saudi-backed LIV Golf circuit ended a two-year dispute with the PGA Tour and DP World Tour and announced an agreement to merge and form one unified commercial entity.
Football, Formula One, and boxing have all had massive financial infusions from Saudi Arabia. According to reports from earlier this year, Jeddah submitted a bid for the ATP’s Next Gen Finals, which will include the best players under the age of 21.
In recent years, Saudi Arabia has established itself as a key host for a variety of sporting events. The nation’s capacity to draw foreign visitors and successfully host big events is influenced by a number of factors.
First off, Saudi Arabia has enormous financial resources and is eager to make significant investments in sports facilities and competitions.
Carlos Alcaraz US Open 2022 win. Photo by ANGELA WEISS / AFP
As part of a larger diversification policy, the government of the nation has actively promoted sports through the Public Investment Fund (PIF).
Due to its strong financial position, Saudi Arabia is able to give significant prizes, entice elite athletes, and build cutting-edge facilities.
Moreover, Saudi wants to host major international sporting events so it can demonstrate its dominance in the sporting world.
In addition, Saudi Arabia’s initiatives to include its populace and promote a healthier lifestyle are in line with its growing emphasis on sports.
The Arab nation hopes to encourage its residents to actively participate in sports by hosting prestigious competitions.
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