The writing was on the wall. After news of the Next Gen ATP Finals being held in Jeddah (until 2027), Rafael Nadal became the ambassador of the Saudi Tennis Federation, and hints of the WTA Finals being held in Saudi Arabia last year, the ATP Tour has finally joined hands with Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF).
The sport isn’t the first or the last to do so. Having already dipped their toes into other sports like football, golf, boxing, and mixed martial arts, it doesn’t come as a shock that Saudi Arabia is now coming for tennis.
As per their new multi-year strategic partnership, the PIF will become the official naming partner of the ATP Rankings, and the year-end world No. 1, presented by the PIF, will be crowned at the ATP Finals in Turin. The PIF will also partner up with major ATP events in Indian Wells, Miami, Madrid, Beijing, and the ATP Finals as a sponsor.
ATP Tour on their new deal with the PIF
In a press release by the ATP, they announced the new partnership.
“Following the launch of the ATP’s Baseline programme earlier this year, PIF has further committed to develop and unlock new opportunities for young players and player pathway initiatives, providing a significant boost to the game’s next generation of stars,” it read.
“Our strategic partnership with PIF marks a major moment for tennis. It’s a shared commitment to propel the future of the sport. With PIF’s dedication to the next generation – fostering innovation and creating opportunities for all – the stage is set for a transformative new period of progress,” said ATP CEO Massimo Calvelli.
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