Former world number one
Andy Roddick has expressed surprise
after seeing legendary Spain’s
Rafael Nadal and America’s
Billie Jean King supporting
Saudi Arabia interest in tennis.
The Middle Eastern country has been heavily investing in
different sports in the recent past to improve its soft image globally. It is
because of this reason they started a football league with the name of Saudi
Pro League where a host of stars from Europe were signed by different clubs
including the likes of five-time Ballon d’Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo.
Saudi Arabia has expressed their intent to invest heavily in
tennis as well, something which was endorsed by the likes of Nadal and Billie
Jean. Roddick was recently quoted in a report where he expressed surprise after
seeing some of the big names in sports endorsing such a move.
"The WTA Finals since they took that stance against
China have been a dumpster fire,” he said. “They put it on at the last minute
in Dallas a couple years ago. They’re doing a disservice to the product that
these women are putting out by being unorganized, maybe unorganized is an
unfair term — but by being reactionary and waiting till the last minute.
"The Finals have been underrepresented on a global
scale for the last couple of years. It’s gone about as badly as it could go as
far as putting together an organized, cohesive event that is a celebration of
the kind of best of the year.
"If, five years from now, Rafa and Billie Jean King all
of a sudden pull this off and things do change, everyone who’s against it has
to eat crow a little bit. We do need to have an open mind towards a result that
is different from what we suspect or anticipate if it does happen," he
said.
"I can’t think
of two more reputable, credible, and talented spokespeople for the game. So
maybe they’re seeing something that you know the rest of the earth isn't, and
maybe they can affect it, but I’m afraid that we won’t know that until it’s too
late, and it’s hard to say that I hope their eyes are wide open.”