Great piece Molly. I’m a freelance commentator, working predominantly in rugby, where we have a sense of inevitability about incoming Saudi money and likely events there. I don’t have the same reporting dilemma as you, but the moral one nags away and will continue to if/when it happens.
Do you have concerns that the ATP and WTA (especially with the former already being PIF-sponsored) will run into an LIV Golf situation with the Saudis? Say, a premier tour that offers much more prize money, potentially drawing players away from an already-fragmented system?
I think tennis is so fragmented, like you say, that it is a sport that could be vulnerable to that kind of situation. My former Telegraph colleague Simon Briggs has written quite extensively on some of the BTS wranglings going on over the last couple of seasons, would recommend seeking out some of his work. There’s so many stakeholders in tennis (the tours, the slams, the ITF), and it makes finding an optimal calendar/schedule that everyone (including the players!) can be happy with so difficult.
Great piece Molly. I’m a freelance commentator, working predominantly in rugby, where we have a sense of inevitability about incoming Saudi money and likely events there. I don’t have the same reporting dilemma as you, but the moral one nags away and will continue to if/when it happens.
Glad someone can relate, Rikki. Interesting to hear about similar feelings across rugby. Thanks for reading.
Great article as always, Molly.
Do you have concerns that the ATP and WTA (especially with the former already being PIF-sponsored) will run into an LIV Golf situation with the Saudis? Say, a premier tour that offers much more prize money, potentially drawing players away from an already-fragmented system?
Thanks for reading!!
Just re-read and you already covered that — stupid me!😅
Please ignore lol
I think tennis is so fragmented, like you say, that it is a sport that could be vulnerable to that kind of situation. My former Telegraph colleague Simon Briggs has written quite extensively on some of the BTS wranglings going on over the last couple of seasons, would recommend seeking out some of his work. There’s so many stakeholders in tennis (the tours, the slams, the ITF), and it makes finding an optimal calendar/schedule that everyone (including the players!) can be happy with so difficult.