Tournament & Tour Announcements

[ti-amie]

This year's tournament will take place from 28 November-2 December 2023
Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, has been officially announced as the host city of the Next Gen ATP Finals, from 2023-2027. The tournament will take place over five days at the King Abdullah Sports City on indoor hard court from 28 November-2 December 2023, with a record US $2 million prize money on offer, following five successful editions of the tournament in Milan, Italy.

The ATP’s announcement follows a competitive bid process launched in March 2023, with the support of Deloitte’s Sport Business Group. The process evaluated host cities from multiple regions against criteria including venue, international connectivity, and potential to grow professional tennis in a new market.

In addition to delivering record prize money for players, Jeddah’s successful bid, led by the Saudi Tennis Federation (STF), makes history as the first official professional tennis event to take place in Saudi Arabia. It builds on a more than 30-year presence in the Middle East for the ATP Tour.

ATP Chairman Andrea Gaudenzi said: "The ATP Tour is truly global and exploring new markets is central to growing the game. Bringing the Next Gen ATP Finals to Jeddah is our chance to inspire new fans, in a region with a vast young population, and unite audiences around tennis. Our congratulations go to Jeddah and the Saudi Tennis Federation. We look forward to building on the event’s incredible success together.”

Tennis is at a major inflection point in Saudi Arabia. Recreational clinics are at full capacity across the country, reflecting STF’s commitment to raising awareness and fostering interest among Saudi’s young, sport-enthusiastic population. Ambitious participation targets, an increase in the number of international tennis competitions, and establishing tennis as the marquee gender-equal sport in Saudi Arabia, have all been set as objectives in line with Vision 2030, which aspires to turn the Kingdom into a major sports, entertainment and tourism hub.

Arij Mutabagani, President of the Saudi Tennis Federation, said: “We are extremely proud that ATP has selected Jeddah to host such an important tennis event. The Next Gen ATP Finals embodies the philosophy of our Federation, which is to inspire young talent to reach the sport’s highest levels. We’re excited to collaborate to promote the ATP Tour’s most promising rising stars, and showcase new sporting innovations, in our special city of Jeddah.”

The Next Gen ATP Finals, first launched in 2017, has established itself as one of the highlights of the tennis season, showcasing the world’s best 21-and-under players in a fast-paced year-end format. Notably, nine of the current Top 10 players in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings having competed at the event, highlighting its role in showcasing the future stars of the sport. Past champions like Stefanos Tsitsipas, Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz have used the event as a stepping-stone to further success in their careers.

The event also serves as a platform to test rule changes, new technologies and innovations in the sport, many of which have gone on to be incorporated on the ATP Tour.


https://www.nextgenatpfinals.com/en/new ... nouncement

[ponchi101]

Another event to boycott.

[ashkor87]

Another event to boycott.

true but not as bad as a women's tournament, considering women arent even allowed to drive there..the hypocricy of that is breath-taking.

[meganfernandez]

Another event to boycott.

true but not as bad as a women's tournament, considering women arent even allowed to drive there..the hypocricy of that is breath-taking.

Or wear proper athletic clothing that shows skin.

[ti-amie]

[ponchi101]

BY now the deal has been signed, for sure. But it would only take Iga and somebody else to say "we are not going" for this thing to be brougth to a stop.
As always, bravo Martina.

[ti-amie]

BY now the deal has been signed, for sure. But it would only take Iga and somebody else to say "we are not going" for this thing to be brougth to a stop.
As always, bravo Martina.

I agree that the deal has been signed and that the WTA is going to try and announce it while the US Open is going on hoping fans will be distracted.

Sadly the WTA players will not challenge this because of the financials. They play for almost nothing all year except for Slams and 1000 events (they're actually 940 events but whatever) and can't afford to pass this up. None of them will say a word even if they have to go back to wearing what Suzanne Lenglen wore.

[meganfernandez]

BY now the deal has been signed, for sure. But it would only take Iga and somebody else to say "we are not going" for this thing to be brougth to a stop.
As always, bravo Martina.

I agree that the deal has been signed and that the WTA is going to try and announce it while the US Open is going on hoping fans will be distracted.

Sadly the WTA players will not challenge this because of the financials. They play for almost nothing all year except for Slams and 1000 events (they're actually 940 events but whatever) and can't afford to pass this up. None of them will say a word even if they have to go back to wearing what Suzanne Lenglen wore.

Did any women play the Saudi exo last year in the offseason, or whenever they had it/them? If so, wonder what they had to wear.


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[Suliso]

Sadly the WTA players will not challenge this because of the financials. They play for almost nothing all year except for Slams and 1000 events (they're actually 940 events but whatever) and can't afford to pass this up. None of them will say a word even if they have to go back to wearing what Suzanne Lenglen wore.

You're joking right? Everyone qualifying for WTA finals is making above 1 million per year on court alone. What ATP is making is irrelevant

As for clothing Saudi's won't mind them wearing whatever they want. They're into sportswashing and these are not "their" women.

[meganfernandez]

Sadly the WTA players will not challenge this because of the financials. They play for almost nothing all year except for Slams and 1000 events (they're actually 940 events but whatever) and can't afford to pass this up. None of them will say a word even if they have to go back to wearing what Suzanne Lenglen wore.

You're joking right? Everyone qualifying for WTA finals is making above 1 million per year on court alone. What ATP is making is irrelevant

As for clothing Saudi's won't mind them wearing whatever they want. They're into sportswashing and these are not "their" women.

WWE female athletes had to cover up to wrestle in SA.

[ti-amie]

Sadly the WTA players will not challenge this because of the financials. They play for almost nothing all year except for Slams and 1000 events (they're actually 940 events but whatever) and can't afford to pass this up. None of them will say a word even if they have to go back to wearing what Suzanne Lenglen wore.

You're joking right? Everyone qualifying for WTA finals is making above 1 million per year on court alone. What ATP is making is irrelevant

As for clothing Saudi's won't mind them wearing whatever they want. They're into sportswashing and these are not "their" women.

If you look at what a WTA 250 pays vs an ATP 250 the women are playing for peanuts most of the year. The ones getting huge appearance fees - like Iga playing Poland - do offset the low pay but not everyone gets that boost.
When you can look at the WTA top 10 and go "her?" you can bet advertisers/TD's are doing the same.

WWE women performers had to cover up. The picture is posted upthread.

[ashkor87]

now the Telegraph reports there will be a 2 day summit soon to consider merging the WTA and ATP tours.. good idea? I think not.. the women will get sidelined even further.. what do folks here think?

[ti-amie]

The full article is in the Tennis Random - Off Court Serious Issues.

I agree with you.

[ponchi101]

I say it would not work. What would happen to the smaller tournaments that are not mixed? Bogota, for example. The ATP event was cancelled, because it was not able to carry itself. The WTA carries on. And there are plenty of tournaments in the ATP that simply do not have the facilities to hole a mixed.
Plus. I don't see the men doing this if it costs them one penny.

[ti-amie]

TBH any deal that involves the WTA "merging" with the ATP will be detrimental to the WTA. I've read several scenarios where it's been suggested that the "merger" be more like the NBA/WNBA relationship or the PGA/LPGA arrangement but no matter what the WTA will suffer. This is why I think we'll see SA instead of Ostrava!!! be selected. The WTA needs the ca$h.

I'll be happy if I'm wrong.