Australian Open chief Craig Tiley to keep an eye on Saudi Arabia developments after Kyrgios backs ATP stake idea
ATPTuesday, 27 June 2023 at 22:30
Nick
Kyrgios expressed his support for Craig Tiley, the director of the Australian
Open, regarding the possibilities of the Public Investment Fund (PIF) of Saudi
Arabia.
The PIF has
been a significant investment player in sports over the past year, including
the acquisition of the Newcastle United football club for £300 million, making
it one of the wealthiest clubs. They have also made investments in golf, such
as the controversial merger of the LIV Tour with another golf tour.
The Public
Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia may now be considering investing in tennis.
According to ATP CEO Craig Tiley, there have been "positive"
discussions about reaching an agreement, although no further details were
provided.
“I think
what’s different is this is more an investment in the current structure of the
game and not an investment in an alternative option,” Tiley said.
“But, like
everything in the world, there are lots of changes always going on, so you’ve
got to watch what’s going on, and we’ve been staying close to it, but
ultimately, that’s a decision for the men’s and the women’s tour.”
“One thing
that’s really important to note is that the four grand slams run independently
… it’s most important that we take care of what we need to take care of, and
that’s our five weeks of tennis in January,” he added.
Indeed, the
interest of Saudi Arabia in tennis raises concerns considering the country's
legal framework, which prohibits homosexuality. This is particularly worrisome
in the tennis world, where many athletes and former athletes openly acknowledge
their homosexuality, including the legendary Billie Jean King, who has been a
leader in the fight for inclusion.
“Everyone
is welcome to Saudi Arabia and visitors are not asked to disclose personal
details,” the Tourist website says.
“If you
came with your boyfriend and didn’t show that to the public it’s not a
problem,”
“Our
problem is that we don’t accept anyone forcing his ideology or culture in
public. It’s against our culture, that’s it,” Adel Alqarni said.
It appears
that Nick Kyrgios has expressed support for the ATP's discussions with Saudi
Arabia regarding a potential investment that could bring the Next Gen Finals to
that country.
“Finally.
The see the value. We are going to get pad what we deserve to get paid. Sign me
up,” Kyrgios wrote on Twitter.
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