Nick Kyrgios open to Saudi money as Saudi Arabia shows interest in tennis

Nick Kyrgios is more than ready to take millions on offer from Saudi Arabia if they express interest in tennis.

According to a report by Mail Sport, ATP Tour chair Andrea Gaudenzi disclosed that he had discussions with Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund.

In response to a Twitter discussion on the news, Kyrgios passionately expressed his thoughts, writing: ‘FINALLY. THEY SEE THE VALUE. WE ARE GOING TO GET PAID WHAT WE DESERVE TO GET PAID. SIGN ME UP’ with ten dollar-sign emojis.

Kyrgios, 28 years old, has amassed an estimated wealth of $18 million from his tennis career.

The Public Investment Fund (PIF) of Saudi Arabia has already made significant investments in various sports ventures, including golf and the acquisition of Newcastle United football club. They have also attracted star footballers such as Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema to their domestic league, and there have been reports of a £16 billion bid to secure the rights to Formula One.

ATP Finals in Saudi Arabia?

In December of last year, Saudi Arabia hosted the Diriyah Cup, an exhibition tournament that featured several top-ranked male players. Sources within the tennis community, as reported by Mail Sport, believe that the next major move could potentially involve the ATP Finals relocating to Saudi Arabia. Additionally, there have been indications that the tennis NextGen finals, a competition for the top eight players under the age of 21, might be moved to Jeddah, the second-largest city in Saudi Arabia.

‘You have to preserve something which is almost sacred, the rules of the game,’ Gaudenzi, who’s just been re-elected as the ATP’s chairman of men’s tennis tour until 2026, told the Financial Times. ‘This is not a video game.”

Alcaraz expecting to play in Saudi Arabia

Recently, world No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz expressed confidence in his future participation in Saudi Arabia and praised the country’s capacity to host numerous tournaments. However, it is important to note that the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) does not have ownership rights over any of the four Grand Slam tournaments, namely the Australian Open, US Open, French Open, and Wimbledon. The grounds of the Wimbledon tournament are currently owned by The All England Lawn Tennis Club, a private members’ club responsible for organizing and hosting the annual event.

“I’ve never played an official tournament over there, and let’s see how it is going to be in the future,’ he said after his Queen’s Club win on Sunday. ‘But, well, I have no doubts that I’ll play over there in the future.”

Related: ATP rankings after Queen’s 2023: Top position, table and points

The complex organization of tennis makes it easier for takeovers, but hosting a tennis tournament is more challenging than hosting a golf event due to logistical reasons. Additionally, critics have accused Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund of using sports to improve their reputation while facing scrutiny regarding human rights issues.

Saudi Arabia denies these allegations and states that its laws prioritize national security.