World primary Carlos Alcaraz has “no doubts” he’ll compete in Saudi Arabia in some unspecified time in the future and mentioned the nation has the facility to carry loads of tournaments after the ATP Tour started talks a few potential partnership with its sovereign wealth fund.
ATP Chairman Andrea Gaudenzi informed the Financial Times final week he has held discussions with Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) and different potential traders on tasks together with infrastructure, occasions and expertise funding.
The report quoted Gaudenzi as saying any potential traders needed to respect the historical past of the game and work with present stakeholders.
Alcaraz mentioned Saudi Arabia has “the power to have a lot of tournaments”.
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“I’ve never played an official tournament over there, and let’s see how it is going to be in the future,” he mentioned after his Queen’s Club win on Sunday.
“But, well, I have no doubts that I’ll play over there in the future.”
Critics have accused the PIF of being a car for the nation to enhance its repute — “sportswashing” — because it faces criticism of its human rights document.
Saudi Arabia denies accusations of human rights abuses and says it protects its nationwide safety by means of its legal guidelines.
While Saudi Arabia has not hosted an ATP match a number of high gamers together with Daniil Medvedev and Stan Wawrinka have competed within the Diriyah Cup exhibition occasion, which held its second version final yr.
Talk of a possible partnership comes after the Saudi-backed LIV Golf circuit ended a two-year dispute with the PGA Tour and DP World Tour and introduced an settlement to merge and type one unified business entity.
Saudi Arabia has additionally pumped large quantities of cash into soccer, Formula One and boxing. Reports earlier this yr mentioned Jeddah was among the many bidders for the ATP’s Next Gen Finals which options the highest Under-21 gamers.
Source: sportstar.thehindu.com