Saudia Arabia Emerging As Frontrunner To Become Next Gen ATP Finals Host

Next Gen ATP Finals Milan
Next Gen ATP Finals in Milan (photo: Florian Heer)

WASHINGTON, May 3, 2023 (by Michael Dickens)

According to reporting by tennis correspondent Simon Briggs of The Telegraph in London, Saudi Arabia is poised to become the next host of the Next Gen ATP Finals.

“Saudi Arabia is closing in on its first official tour event, with the port city of Jeddah emerging as the front runner in the bidding for December’s Next Gen ATP Finals,” Briggs wrote in a May 1 story.

Launched in 2017, the Next Gen ATP Finals features the leading under-21 players of the season. It has been held in Milan, Italy since its inception.

“While a decision on the new contract is still a few weeks away, Telegraph Sport understands that a five-year deal with Jeddah is now almost a formality.”

According to Briggs, “this is part of an ATP strategy to develop closer links with the Middle East.”

Djokovic able to travel to U.S. this summer for US Open

World No. 1 Novak Djokovic will be able to compete at this year’s US Open after the U.S. government announced earlier on Monday that it would end its COVID-19 vaccination requirements for international travelers on May 11.

The 35-year-old Serbian, who has won 22 career major titles, is one of the most high-profile athletes in the world unvaccinated against COVID-19. His vaccine status forced him to miss last year’s US Open and he was denied special permission to play at Indian Wells and Miami earlier this year. This year’s US Open will be held from August 28 to September 10.

Met Gala: Federer exuded timeless elegance

The Met Gala, the annual charity event at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, is fast becoming a major gathering spot for tennis’s biggest talents. On Monday, while Roger Federer – one of this year’s co-chairmen – and his wife, Mirka, hit the red carpet, 23-time major Serena Williams made major news with the announcement of her second pregnancy. Also, Hall of Famer Andy Roddick and his wife, Brooklyn Decker, were seen and so was Italian star Matteo Berrettini.

From head to toe, Federer exuded timeless elegance. He wore a sharp black tuxedo, accented with peak lapels, designer sunglasses and a brand-new Rolex wristwatch.

“I think the sports people have gotten more and more fashionable,” Federer told the Associated Press, interviewed on the red carpet. “I think we’re fortunate enough to get on covers much more frequently nowadays, athletes, than ever before. … Life has been so intertwined between sports and fashion in recent years. So, it’s nice to come out on a type of red carpet like this.”

Double duty for Kazakhstan’s Shvedova

After captaining Kazakhstan’s national team into the Billie Jean King Cup by Gainbridge Finals last month, Yaroslava Shvedova is heading her country’s BJK Cup junior team (girls 16-and-under) in this week’s Asia/Oceania Final Qualifying.

The former World No. 25 and two-time major doubles champion is excited to work with her country’s junior players. In a recent interview with ITFTennis.com, Shvedova said: “I started with Kazakhstan’s Billie Jean King Cup Juniors team last year when they were looking for a captain and I was so excited to do it as it’s a platform for junior players to become members of the senior team.

“It is a privilege to have the opportunity to help junior players during the early stages of their careers and when I was asked to be captain again this year, I immediately said, ‘yes.’ I really believe I can help our junior players.”

By the numbers

• Egypt’s Mayar Sherif defeated three consecutive seeds – including World No. 5 Caroline Garcia – en route to reaching her first WTA 1000 quarterfinal. Sherif also beat No. 30 Anhelina Kalinina and No. 24 Elise Mertens before falling to No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka, 2-6, 6-2, 6-1. Sherif became the first player to take a set off Sabalenka.

• Aryna Sabalenka is the sixth player to reach 10-plus WTA 1000 semifinals before turning 25. She won 11 of the last 12 games to beat Mayar Sherif, which advanced her into the last four in Madrid.

“Quotable …”

• “Feeling great, playing well. I just have to focus every match. I’ll be ready for next round. I was struggling last year so I’m coming this year in middle of the year. I’m really happy with my game, so we’ll see what’s going on.”

– Qualifier Aslan Karatsev of Russia, ranked 121st, who upset fellow countryman and World No. 3 Daniil Medvedev, 7-6 (1), 6-4, to reach the Madrid quarterfinals. It’s his first Masters 1000 quarterfinal.

• “Last year, I was the young kid coming up. Now it’s totally different. I consider myself one of the players that’s there. … I felt so much love in the matches. It’s almost full everywhere for me. It’s something I can’t believe, the love I receive from the people.”

– No. 1 seed Carlos Alcaraz of Spain, in conversation with Tennis Channel’s Prakash Amritraj.

 

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