RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA – FEBRUARY 28: In this image provided by PIF, Massimo Calvelli, CEO, … (+)
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Saudi Arabia announced a $2 billion bid to resume tennis has thrown the sport into “disarray behind the scenes” but will ultimately lead to players making “more money,” ESPN’s Patrick McEnroe said on CNBC.
The Saudi proposal would involve merging the ATP and WTA tours under the same roof, including allowing them to host more tournaments combined, while adding a high-profile tournament in Saudi Arabia at the start of the season ahead of the Open. Australia. The offer, first reported by The Telegraph, would expire 90 days after its extension. This also excludes the four Grand Slam tournaments, which take place independently of the tours.
“The tennis establishment was shocked by what happened last week here in the desert of Indian Wells. » McEnroe said on air.
“That this offer came from the boss of the ATP, Andrea Gaudenzi. The Grand Slams, as well as the tours (ATP and WTA), they were hoping to come to some sort of agreement where they could all come together and essentially control the schedule of the professional tennis season.
“With this Saudi offer, it has thrown things behind the scenes into real disarray. Here’s one thing I know: there will be a lot more money for the players, I think, in the next few years, whether it comes directly from the Saudis and then they have control of the tours, I think that’s the big question.
“And I think the Grand Slams, the major tournaments, kind of control their own destiny (and they) need to come together and I think bring something with a little more meat to the table to see if they can working together to achieve their goals. with a schedule that suits them all. Otherwise, tennis goes the way of Formula 1, football, and of course we have seen what happened with LIV Golf in recent years, tennis seems to be next.
Asked what could happen to the majors if the Saudis took over for the remainder of the tour, McEnroe added:
“Tennis needs the stars, maybe even more than golf… So I think the $64,000 question, or even millions or maybe billions right now, are the entities that control the tennis, meaning the majors and tours, need to find a way to resolve this internally. The question is whether they can before this deal with the Saudis expires. They have set a quite serious deadline to make a decision regarding tours and players.
John McEnroe, Patrick’s older brother and a seven-time Grand Slam champion, previously said he would not encourage tennis to do business with the Saudis.
“Personally I wouldn’t encourage the Saudi thing, but I’m not surprised tennis is added to the mix after what we’ve seen in golf,” he said. said last June before the current Saudi offer is made. “I don’t think it’s something we should pursue per se, but it’s out of my hands.”
“I don’t know why on earth tennis would suddenly find itself; let’s talk to the Saudis after the debacle you are witnessing in golf. To me, it’s comical that this is being brought up at this time.
