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11 Jun 22
16:39
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Date Joined:
05 Dec 19
So in golf the Saudis have started a rival tour to the PGA and several players have jumped ship with Phil Mickelson and Dustin Johnson being the most note worthy.
If tennis did the same, who would you see jump on this? The sacrifice for the players would be that they could no longer play ATP/WTA events or Slams but the upside would be that they would make so much more money compared to what they're doing now.
If tennis did the same, who would you see jump on this? The sacrifice for the players would be that they could no longer play ATP/WTA events or Slams but the upside would be that they would make so much more money compared to what they're doing now.
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Was thinking the same.
Unlike with golf, they'd have to attract the very best players to stand a chance.
Unlike with golf, they'd have to attract the very best players to stand a chance.
LIV players can play Majors as it stands as they're not run by the PGA tour.
Tennis slams are associations of the ITF so it'd be down to them and the individual slams and not the ATP/WTA as to whether breakaway players could play, I don't see why the ITF or slams would care which tour players are playing on as long as they show up for slams, but the obvious sticking point is that if they're not on the main tour then they're not earning ranking pts to qualify in the first place so they'd be out by default, in Golf it's different, there are number of different ways in which player can qualify for the majors, in the masters you have a lifetime invitation if you win it for example.
Even if the breakaway tour drew symmetry with the main tour and had a full calendar with a sufficient number of players involved, how do you go about deciding who is the real World ranked number 10 or 50 or 77th in the world, wouldn't work so players leaving the main tours would effectively be given up the the chance to play in slams unless any top player wants to rely on wildcards.
Most tournaments in wta/atp have 28/32 size draws, so in theory they'd need at least that number plus a good dozen more to fill them up in case of injuries to get going, wouldn't even need to qualify until the new tour grows and more came over.
But Nobody would bother running it because of this, they know they'd never attract the big fish whereas in Golf there's a chance.
Tennis slams are associations of the ITF so it'd be down to them and the individual slams and not the ATP/WTA as to whether breakaway players could play, I don't see why the ITF or slams would care which tour players are playing on as long as they show up for slams, but the obvious sticking point is that if they're not on the main tour then they're not earning ranking pts to qualify in the first place so they'd be out by default, in Golf it's different, there are number of different ways in which player can qualify for the majors, in the masters you have a lifetime invitation if you win it for example.
Even if the breakaway tour drew symmetry with the main tour and had a full calendar with a sufficient number of players involved, how do you go about deciding who is the real World ranked number 10 or 50 or 77th in the world, wouldn't work so players leaving the main tours would effectively be given up the the chance to play in slams unless any top player wants to rely on wildcards.
Most tournaments in wta/atp have 28/32 size draws, so in theory they'd need at least that number plus a good dozen more to fill them up in case of injuries to get going, wouldn't even need to qualify until the new tour grows and more came over.
But Nobody would bother running it because of this, they know they'd never attract the big fish whereas in Golf there's a chance.
Didn't know they are still allowed to play the majors.
If that remains the case, then seems a no-brainer.
If that remains the case, then seems a no-brainer.
Given it's Saudi backed I'd be surprised if they'd do it for the WTA at all, unless they are that attuned to how bad PR that would be for them (do they even care though?).
Tbh tennis probs is ripe for this right now though as there will be a lot of disgruntled players, the real issue though will be getting them all on the same side for anything will probably prove difficult, and unlike golf you need to attract more of the top players for it work. Golf conceivably has many more top players than tennis who can win on a given week, with tennis you would have to have the absolute top names for it to really work. If you just transcribed the same rank golf players they have attracted so far it would never work in tennis as they would be nearly all nobodies the general public haven't heard of.
Tbh tennis probs is ripe for this right now though as there will be a lot of disgruntled players, the real issue though will be getting them all on the same side for anything will probably prove difficult, and unlike golf you need to attract more of the top players for it work. Golf conceivably has many more top players than tennis who can win on a given week, with tennis you would have to have the absolute top names for it to really work. If you just transcribed the same rank golf players they have attracted so far it would never work in tennis as they would be nearly all nobodies the general public haven't heard of.
you only need a few top players imo + a few names and some decent players to round out the numbers. But whether or not players will be allowed to play will be a dealbreaker for the top players I think. I could see Djokovic doing this but not if it means he can not participate at Slams. Probably goes for a few others as well. If they get some top players onboard, I don't think it will be hard to attract journeymen/people who were fairly big names at one point but whose best days are behind them but who still have some name value.
Djokovic alone will get even worse press than the golfers given he's already a polarising figure. He will get hammered if he did this without Rafa and Roger with him.
Alot of the 'casual' audience dislike Djokovic already. this would add fuel to that dislike if something like this did ever happen
If the Saudis had any sort of chance with tennis they would've gone there 1st given that it's a truly global sport.
Christopher Clarey
@christophclarey
·
14m
No sign yet of a Saudi-backed rival #tennis tour but the kingdom definitely wants an official tournament (or two) and continues to make that clear to the ATP & WTA
For now, the tours are resistant
Our latest
https://twitter.com/christophclarey/status/1540359788277678081
@christophclarey
·
14m
No sign yet of a Saudi-backed rival #tennis tour but the kingdom definitely wants an official tournament (or two) and continues to make that clear to the ATP & WTA
For now, the tours are resistant
Our latest
https://twitter.com/christophclarey/status/1540359788277678081
will WTA dare to say the name or will they do the WWE thing?
A tournament in Saudi is the best the Saudis can hope for but we'll see.
I guess if there was a "rival tour" they'd attract plenty of mediocre players way down the pay-scale who'd never dream of earning big money otherwise.
One thing in Saudi's favour is that it doesn't have to be a commercial success.
I guess if there was a "rival tour" they'd attract plenty of mediocre players way down the pay-scale who'd never dream of earning big money otherwise.
One thing in Saudi's favour is that it doesn't have to be a commercial success.
no LIV tour yet, but the Saudis are making moves.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/tennis/article-12034109/Jeddah-leads-bids-season-ending-NextGen-Finals-tenniss-steps-Saudi-Arabia.html
,
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/tennis/article-12034109/Jeddah-leads-bids-season-ending-NextGen-Finals-tenniss-steps-Saudi-Arabia.html
,
Journeyman in the comments
Divinity Mode@jaketennisnut
·1h
Just what we need. More hardcourt tournaments in the middle-east. Empty arenas, no atmosphere, no local tennis culture. Just lots of dollars and the squeak of shoes dancing on the grave of tennis.
Divinity Mode@jaketennisnut
·1h
Just what we need. More hardcourt tournaments in the middle-east. Empty arenas, no atmosphere, no local tennis culture. Just lots of dollars and the squeak of shoes dancing on the grave of tennis.
fast forward to the year 2033... it's the month of July, and the Wimbledon Championships are about to begin in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
might be too hot for Jeddah Wimbledon in July though, so we'll get it in December instead.
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