Saudi Arabia’s PIF, ATP announce strategic partnership to enhance global tennis

Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) and the governing body of men’s professional tennis, ATP Tour, announced on Wednesday a new multi-year strategic partnership, in a move that further elevates the Kingdom’s position in the global sports scene.

The partnership marks a “significant shared commitment to enhancing global tennis for players, fans, tournament organizers and stakeholders at all levels of the sport,” both PIF and ATP said in a statement.

As per the agreement, the PIF will become the official naming partner of ATP rankings and will also be a partner at the Nitto ATP Finals, the ending of the ATP tour season championship, held in Italy’s Turin until 2025.

Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund is also set to be a partner in ATP tournaments in Indian Wells, Miami, Madrid, Beijing as well as the Next Gen ATP Finals, that will be hosted in Jeddah until 2027.

“Through our collaboration with ATP, PIF will be a catalyst for growth of the global tennis landscape, developing talent, fostering inclusivity and driving sustainable innovation,” Mohamed AlSayyad, Head of Corporate Brand at PIF, said in the statement.

“This strategic partnership aligns with our broader vision to enhance quality of life and drive transformation in sport both within Saudi and across the world,” AlSayyad said.

The PIF, according to the statement, will also actively contribute to ATP’s OneVision Strategic Plan, which focuses on driving unity, enhancing fan experiences and leveraging scalable growth opportunities.

“Our strategic partnership with PIF marks a major moment for tennis. It’s a shared commitment to propel the future of the sport,” Massimo Calvelli, ATP CEO, said.

Calvelli said that with PIF’s dedication to the next generation “the stage is set for a transformative new period of progress.”

Tennis a ‘key sport’ in Saudi Arabia

According to the joint statement, tennis is “rapidly” becoming a key sport in the Kingdom.

It noted that between 2019 and 2023, the number of registered players increased by 46 percent.

With this reality, the PIF will “leverage ATP’s expertise to develop further opportunities for young Saudis in tennis, including via state-of-the-art facilities, coaching, and an enhanced player pathway in Saudi Arabia.”

The news of the multi-year strategic partnership comes a month after 22-time Grand Slam champion Spainard Rafael Nadal was announced as a Saudi tennis ambassador. The partnership will include the building of a Rafa Nadal Academy in the Kingdom.

Nadal, along with Novak Djokovic and three other Grand Slam winners, will also partake in a new elite tennis exhibition that will be hosted in Saudi Arabia.

The announcement also comes at the backdrop of a debate that emerged over potentially moving the Women’s Tennis Association Finals to Saudi Arabia after former tennis players Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova objected to any such move.

Saudi Arabia’s Ambassador to the US Princess Reema bint Bandar, rejected such criticism saying that “these champions have turned their back on the very same women they have inspired, and it is beyond disappointing.”