Will ATP Talks With Saudi Wealth Fund Change The Tour’s Future?

ATP Tour
ATP Tour (photo: Florian Heer)

WASHINGTON, June 28, 2023 (by Michael Dickens)

According to a weekend story by Samuel Agini in the London-based Financial Times, the ATP Tour chair Andrea Gaudenzi recently held “positive” talks with the Public Investment Fund, Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund, about possible co-investments, “as the kingdom’s oil-funded capital continues to reshape the business of sport.”

Gaudenzi, who this week was re-elected as chairman of the ATP Tour (a position he has held since January 2020), told the FT that outside investors must “stick to respecting the history of the sport and the product, working with the current stakeholder rather than against.”

Further, Gaudenzi emphasized: “You have to preserve something which is almost sacred, the rules of the game. This is not a video game; this is not a movie.”

Rinaldi to step down as U.S. Billie Jean King Cup captain 

After six years as captain of the U.S. Billie Jean King Cup, Kathy Rinaldi will step down after this year’s finals in Seville, Spain. The announcement was made Monday by the U.S. Tennis Association.

Under Rinaldi, the U.S. won the Cup in 2017, reached the final in 2018 and the semifinals in 2021. She will remain head of women’s tennis for USTA Player Development.

“Having the distinct role of being named captain of the U.S. Billie Jean King Cup Team was one of the greatest honors of my life,” Rinaldi said in a USTA statement. “It has been an incredible ride for six-plus years! I certainly hope I made Billie Jean proud. I have so much love and admiration for her and for her iconic impact on women in sports, and for the impact she and Ilana [Kloss] continue to have on my life.”

Swiatek stays busy even when she’s not competing for titles

Women’s No. 1 Iga Swiatek of Poland, who is the top-seeded player at this week’s Wimbledon grass-court tuneup tournament in Bad Homburg, Germany, has stayed busy since winning her third French Open title earlier this month.

First, Swiatek gave the commencement speech at the Rafael Nadal Academy graduation ceremony.

Then, last week, Swiatek announced her brand ambassadorship with Porsche.

Ted Robinson: In praise of Muchova and Swiatek

Longtime Tennis Channel commentator Ted Robinson told Tennis TourTalk during a recent email interview that he was impressed with the performances of both Roland Garros women’s champion Iga Swiatek and finalist Katerina Muchova at this month’s French Open. Both will be seeded at next week’s Wimbledon Championships.

“Watching Muchova in person was my revelation,” Robinson said. “With [good] health, her skills stood out as championship-worthy. Calling her match on the middle Sunday, I mentioned to Chanda Rubin, my [Tennis Channel] on-air partner, that Muchova  had proven worthy of saying ‘Why not me?’ as a potential RG champ. A week later, I watched the final with a measure of pride in my assessment.

“In that final, Swiatek summoned what I have long cited as the best of Nadal. Early third set, Muchova seized momentum with a break in hand. And Swiatek showed not the slightest tension. Her body language was firm, not betraying any concession to her opponent. She was resolute. Nadal has the best body language of any athlete Imhave ever seen. Swiatek, for one important moment, showed the same.”

Alcaraz joins select club with titles on all surfaces in same season

On Sunday, Carlos Alcaraz became the 19th ATP player to win singles titles on three different surfaces in the same season since 2008 after lifting the trophy on grass at The Queen’s Club in London. Alcaraz defeated Alex de Minaur, 6-4, 6-4, to win the Cinch Championships crown.

Alcaraz has won five titles this season, including three on clay, one on hard court and one on grass. According to ATP public relations manager Greg Sharko, during the 2008-23 span, Novak Djokovic has done it six times, Roger Federer three times, and Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray twice each.

One last Petko Dance

Germany’s Andrea Petkovic bid farewell to tennis with help from tournament ambassador Angelique Kerber in Bad Homburg, Germany on Sunday.

Feliciano Lopez extends career at least one more match

On Tuesday, 41-year-old Spaniard Feliciano Lopez extended his career for at least one more match after defeating Australia  Max Purcell in the first round of the ATP 250 Mallorca Championships in Spain. Showing some vintage grass-court craft and guile — and with his buddy Rafael Nadal sitting in the front row — Lopez won 6-3, 7-5. He will play another Aussie, Jordan Thompson, in the next round Wednesday.

Ivan Ljubicic speaks out on the GOAT debate

Serbian tennis writer Sasa Ozmo, writing in Tennis Majors, interviewed Ivan Ljubicic, former coach of Roger Federer, on the subject of the GOAT debate. While he said it will always be “subjective,” Ljubicic believes that Novak Djokovic is now the most successful player in history.

“If Novak wins a few more Slams, GOAT debate becomes meaningless,” Ljubicic said.

The WTA at 50: Taking it back to 1985 Eastbourne 

With the history-rich Rothesay International taking place at Eastbourne this week, a resort town on England’s southeast coast, it is worth looking back 50 years to the 1985 edition when Martina Navratilova won one of her record 11 singles trophies at Devonshire Park.

Passing shots

• Much has been written about Paula Badosa‘s off-court relationship with Stefanos Tsitsipas. On Monday, Badosa was spotted on court at the Mallorca Country Club getting advice from Tsitsipas’ father, Apostolos. The younger World No. 5 Tsitsipas is the top seed in the ATP 250 Mallorca Championships grass-court tune-up for Wimbledon.

• Despite having to retire from his quarterfinal match at the Terra Wortmann Open in Halle last week, Jannik Sinner was graceful in thanking the tournament and shared with his followers on social media that he will be fit and ready for Wimbledon.

• Frances Tiafoe: At the Championships and repping NBA champion Luka Doncic.

•  Novak Djokovic: Swinging into the grass-court season.

• British fashion scene with Katie Boulter, Cameron Norrie and Jack Draper.

By the numbers

American teenager Ashlyn Krueger won her first WTA title on Sunday after rallying to beat top-seeded Tatjana Maria of Germany, 3-6, 6-4, 7-5, in the final of the Venetian Open in Gaiba, Italy.

The 19-year-old Krueger won the last five games of the match and secured the match with an ace. With the title victory, Krueger rose from 148th to a career-high No. 108.

The Venetian Open, a WTA 125K in its second year, is the first WTA tournament played on natural grass in Italy. The courts were made on former soccer fields.

“Quotable …”

“I have a lot of confidence right now coming into Wimbledon. I ended the week playing at the high level. So right now, I feel one of the favorites, you know, to win, Wimbledon. But honestly, I have to get more experience on grass. Even if I win the title, I just played 11 matches in my career on grass, so I have to get more experience, more hours. But obviously, after beating amazing guys, you know, great players, and the level that I played, I consider myself one of the favorites or one of the players to be able to win Wimbledon.”

— Carlos Alcaraz of Spain, during his post-match press conference after winning The Cinch Championships in London Sunday.

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