Italy Opposes Saudi Arabia’s Entry into Tennis
Italian Tennis Federation President Criticizes Saudi Arabia’s Impact on the Sport
- Nacho Atanes @nacho_atanes
- Sports editor and youth player for OKDIARIO. Covering tennis information since 2016, as well as basketball, soccer, cycling, and other sports.
-
- Updated:
The ATP Finals 2023 is overshadowed by the potential entry of Saudi Arabia into the world of tennis. While the Middle Eastern country aims to invest in the sport and host a Masters 1000 event in 2025, Italy stands as the main opponent to this interference.
Angelo Binaghi, the president of the Italian Tennis Federation, publicly expressed his concerns about the ATP’s intention to grant Saudi Arabia a Masters 1000 tournament. He emphasized that despite its economic potential, Saudi Arabia lacks the tennis tradition and heritage that other countries possess.
In an interview with Ubitennis, Binaghi discussed the successful reception of the ATP Finals in Turin and took the opportunity to criticize Saudi Arabia’s potential involvement in the men’s professional circuit. He highlighted the lack of ticket sales from Saudi Arabia, indicating that the country does not contribute to the sport beyond its financial resources.
“Of the 166,470 tickets available, 160,612 have been sold, with a stadium capacity of 176,985 seats in the fifteen sessions. The total occupancy rate is 96.7%. 40.2% of tickets were sold abroad, with Switzerland, Germany, England, and Brazil being the main markets. And we have not sold a single one in Saudi Arabia,” Binaghi stated, emphasizing the ATP’s prioritization of economic power over tradition and dedication.
Saudi Arabia’s Ambitious Tennis Project
Saudi Arabia aims to become a major player in world tennis, following its successful ventures in football and golf. Leveraging the economic strength of the country’s public investment fund, the PIF, Saudi Arabia plans to invest heavily in the sport. The ATP has agreed to grant them the organization of a Masters 1000 event, potentially starting in 2025. This could either add to the existing tournaments or replace one, with Paris-Bercy, Miami, and the Mutua Madrid Open being potential targets.
In addition, Saudi Arabia has already secured an exhibition match featuring the top two tennis players, Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz, in Riyadh. The country also has plans to host the WTA Finals or a WTA 1000 event, aligning the dates and organization with the new Masters 1000.