The most important – and at the same time most terrifying – thing that has happened in the world of sport in 2023 is Saudi Arabia’s de facto takeover of the entire sport of golf at the top level. Now the same may soon happen with tennis. The difference is nevertheless significant: the sport of tennis appears as an almost excessively willing victim. One of these you could make cheap points about. But we don’t. “Cheap” is not a word that is descriptive of any of what is going on in international top sport these days. TENNIS PROFILE: Nick Kyrgios of Australia. Photo: TOBY MELVILLE / Reuters Everything has a price There is something astonishing about how effectively money overcomes principles, also in the world of sport. Or perhaps especially in the world of sports. Where, in the deepest sense, everything is about winning, at least as long as you stay within the rules that exist at all times. To some extent, Saudi Arabia has realized this. Whoever pays the most wins. So simple – when you have virtually unlimited money. When Cristiano Ronaldo so clearly states that he does not want to continue his career in the desert state of the Arabian Peninsula, one only turns up the reward so far that human greed eventually trumps the remaining sporting ambitions. CELEBRATION: Cristiano Ronaldo marks Saudi Arabia’s national day. Photo: AL-NASSR FC / Reuters An annual salary of over NOK 2 billion does something to people. The power of example too. Now several more or less fallen stars follow. And the Saudi Arabian league, which until now has been ranked as the 58th best in the world, suddenly has to be taken with a completely different seriousness. In a few months, Saudi Arabia seems to be on its way to becoming a recognized football country. Viktor Hovland’s billion-no The power of the example – which cannot just be used on individual players in a sport either – when the same nation has started to buy up entire sports. Because that is what happened in early June, when the giant Saudi Arabian petroleum fund, PIF, in reality gained full control over the new collaborative project that will continue to govern the sport of golf. This happened after violent disputes and discussions beforehand. Players who said yes to the new LIV tour – and players who said no, like the fix star Tiger Woods or our own Viktor Hovland. REFUSED: Viktor Hovland never joined the LIV tour. Photo: MIKE SEGAR / Reuters No to Saudi Arabia. And with that no to billions, just to sign for the new tournament. And where the conflict between the traditional golf tour, the PGA, and the new, Saudi Arabian one was headed for the California courtrooms, it instead ended in a sensational agreement. Sensational, because the division seemed so deep and genuine – and not least important. But still not. Everything had its price. Also the PGA’s once powerful director Jay Monahan. Again, Viktor Hovland and the other stars who had said no for clear reasons of principle sat back speechless. Tiger Woods alone had turned down somewhere between 8 and 10 billion Norwegian kroner in pure “sign-on fee”. Hovland was probably also offered an amount in the billions. Everyone understands that it requires ethics and morality to say no to such things. Now they were let down by their own leaders. Perhaps they will receive some kind of financial compensation. They will never regain the belief that there are still principles in the sport of golf. Casper Ruud’s billion-dollar opportunity Now it will soon be Casper Ruud’s turn to be tempted. Because while golf needed persuasion, tennis is easier to relate to for the Saudi Arabs. CHEERING: Norway’s tennis star Casper Ruud cheers here during Roland Garros earlier this year. Photo: LISI NIESNER / Reuters Men’s tennis is governed by the organization ATP, which owns all tournaments, with the exception of the four largest, called the Grand Slam tournaments. The very largest of them, Wimbledon in South London, starts on the first Monday in July. But Wimbledon 2023 is also a symbol that principles can lose power. Last year’s tournament was closed to all players from Russia and Belarus. Where tennis’ governing bodies have always allowed Russian and Belarusian players to participate as so-called “neutrals”, the most important of all tournaments refused to agree. While the decision was hailed by many, opposition from the sport itself was nevertheless strong. The ATP ended up punishing Wimbledon by taking away from the tournament all the so-called ranking points, which are very important for the players. And with that lowering the importance of the tournament. This year the threats were even stronger. And Wimbledon bowed out. This year, the so-called neutral Russians and Belarusians will again be allowed to participate. The Ukrainian foreign minister, Dmytro Kuleba, branded the decision “immoral”. But to no use. Tennis has its obvious moral: The strongest rule. And the powers that be with all the best players in the sport’s biggest tournament are superior. Conversations, not division But the strongest misrule at least as much. For which ATP has long been accused. Therefore, no one was particularly surprised when chairman Andrea Gaudenzi told the Financial Times almost triumphantly a few days ago that he had been in talks with the aforementioned Saudi Arabian oil fund about a future collaboration. Cooperation should prevent a corresponding split or the creation of competitive tournament forms, as the sport of golf experienced. The response from world number two Carlos Alcaraz after he won the grass court in Queens last weekend was exactly what Saudi Arabia could hope for: “They have the strength to host a lot of tournaments. I have no doubt that I will play there in the future”. BIG CUP: Carlos Alcaraz recently won the tennis tournament in Queens. Then he received a big trophy. Photo: PETER CZIBORRA / Reuters At the same time, there was so-called “Pride Day” during the Queens tournament. None of the players celebrated by showing off the rainbow colours. It is as if preparations for a new regime have already begun. We currently know little about what our own Casper Ruud thinks about the matter. But as recently as last December, he beat the aforementioned Alcaraz in an exhibition tournament in the neighboring Emirates. Saudi Arabia has never hosted a major tennis tournament, but that could very soon change. It is already being suggested that the prestigious ATP finals in a few years may be played in Riyadh or Jeddah. The controversial Australian Nick Kyrgios expressed most clearly what he thought of the negotiations: “Finally. They see the value. We’re going to get paid what we’re worth. I am with”. Poor Kyrgios, who will now finally be paid for his many strokes, has recorded a measly 12.5 million so far in his career. That is, US dollars. Bin Salman for tennis? POWERFUL: Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is pictured here during a reception for the country’s national football team. Photo: BANDAR ALGALOUD / Reuters While waiting to see what the next move in sports is for Saudi Arabia and its powerful Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, one can continue to practice filtering out thoughts of what actually lies behind. On how homosexuals and women and the opposition are treated in the country. On how sport is used to gain power for the tyrannical, brutal and powerful kingdom in ever new areas. Therefore, they have bought themselves control over golf. And soon may come to do it in basketball, Formula 1, boxing or baseball. But first they are therefore on their way to acquiring a position in tennis. The most frightening thing is how easily it seems to happen. After at least a short exchange of blows to take control of the golf, this is, in tennis’ own language, a pure ace – and that on the duck reserve.
ttn-69
Saudi Arabian duck reserve – news Sport – Sports news, results and broadcasting schedule
