Saudi Arabia's $2 Billion Offer to Merge Tennis Tours

SOURCE sports.yahoo.com
Saudi Arabia has made a $2 billion offer to merge the men's and women's tennis tours, separate from the four grand slams. ATP chairman Andrea Gaudenzi is in talks with Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) to create a new PIF Tour model which could potentially cause tension with the existing Premium Tour model. Gaudenzi is proposing a unified tennis commissioner for the ATP and WTA Tours.

Key Points

  • ATP chairman Andrea Gaudenzi in talks with Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) for a $2 billion offer to merge tennis tours
  • Proposal for a new PIF Tour model which could include a Saudi Masters event and a WTA finals in Riyadh
  • Gaudenzi's aim to become a tennis commissioner for both tours

Pros

  • Potential for increased funding and commercial success with the creation of a new PIF Tour model
  • Opportunity for more combined events and a unified TV and data rights offering

Cons

  • Possible tension with existing stakeholders, particularly the four grand slams
  • Concerns from male players about the dilution of their market value in an equal-parts merger