John McEnroe delivers warning after Nick Kyrgios backs Saudi tennis funding

John McEnroe has fired a warning to the ATP concerning the risks of entertaining Saudi funding in elite tennis, citing the present “debacle” in golf for instance of why the thought is “comical”. But prime tour star Nick Kyrgios is not on the identical web page.

Andrea Gaudenzi, the chairman of the lads’s tour, confirmed final week that he has held “positive” talks with representatives of Saudi Arabia’s Private Investment Fund (PIF) – the identical group that has invested closely in different sports activities together with the £300m takeover of Premier League soccer membership Newcastle United and the creation of the controversial LIV Golf, which efficiently lured top-class golfers from the PGA Tour by providing eye-watering sign-on charges.

PIF are extensively anticipated so as to add an funding in tennis to their rising sports activities portfolio, with hypothesis rife that the Arab state might host the following ATP Next Gen finals.

Seven-time Grand Slam winner McEnroe is doubtful of any deal, significantly after observing the widescale disruption that has been induced on this planet of golf. LIV Golf’s breakaway tour induced an enormous rift between prime gamers, with a big group of former PGA stars rebelling to affix the brand new tour in trade for assured tens of millions.

And the way forward for the lads’s recreation was given a seismic shake simply weeks in the past when it was introduced that the PGA Tour, DP World Tour and LIV Golf have agreed to merge into one entity, successfully giving PIF a seat on the prime desk of the game.

Speaking on a press name with reporters forward of subsequent week’s Wimbledon Championships, McEnroe stated: “I wouldn’t encourage it personally, the Saudi thing. I’m not surprised that tennis is being thrown into the mix after what we saw in golf. I don’t think that’s something that we should be pursuing. It’s not in my hands.

“I don’t know why in the hell tennis would suddenly be; let’s talk to the Saudis after the debacle that you’re watching in golf. To me, it’s comical that it’s even being brought up right now.”

Gaudenzi has tried to play a diplomatic role in the conversation and has batted away the suggestion of a similar takeover in tennis to the one now being witnessed in golf. After recently being re-elected as the head of the ATP tour for another three years, he insisted that any investor must be willing to “stick to respecting the history of the sport and the product, working with the current stakeholder rather than against”.

McEnroe’s concerns about Saudi investment are not shared by outspoken ATP star Kyrgios, who believes it will bring a fairer return on the dedication and investment made by the tour’s players.

The Australian Tweeted: “Finally, they see the value. We are going to get paid what we deserve to get paid. Sign me up.”

World No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz has also said that he expects to be playing in Saudi Arabia in the future, but McEnroe is not impressed by the apparent riches on offer. He added: “Unfortunately, it’s like money talks, that’s all that matters. But I don’t think that’s all that matters. Eventually, you get bought out. It’s like, at some point, someone will offer too much.”