The ATP and Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) have announced their latest venture, a multi-year strategic partnership. This pioneering deal sees the PIF becoming the official naming partner of the ATP Rankings, with the year-end ATP world No 1, presented by PIF, set to be crowned at the ATP Finals in Turin in November.
In a statement released by the ATP, the new partnership was described as a significant shared commitment to enhancing global tennis for players, fans, tournament organisers, and stakeholders at all levels of the sport. This collaboration signifies the PIF’s first major involvement with professional tennis and is part of their increasing involvement in various sports, such as football, golf, boxing, and mixed martial arts.
As part of the partnership, the PIF will sponsor ATP Tour events in Indian Wells, Miami, Madrid, Beijing, and the ATP Finals, with branding and activation opportunities. Additionally, the PIF will act as the presenting partner of the Next Gen ATP Finals, hosted in Jeddah until 2027.
The partnership also includes a commitment to developing and unlocking new opportunities for young players and player pathway initiatives through the ATP’s Baseline programme, with the PIF actively contributing to ATP’s OneVision Strategic Plan. This strategic plan focuses on driving unity, enhancing fan experiences, and leveraging scalable growth opportunities across the sport.
ATP CEO Massimo Calvelli expressed his excitement about the partnership, emphasizing the shared commitment to propelling the future of tennis. Similarly, Mohamed Al Sayyad, Head of Corporate Brand at PIF, highlighted the organization’s dedication to enhancing the global tennis landscape, developing talent, fostering inclusivity, and driving sustainable innovation.
The sport of tennis has been rapidly gaining popularity in Saudi Arabia, with a 46% increase in registered players between 2019 and 2023. Leveraging the expertise of the ATP, the PIF aims to further develop opportunities for young Saudis in tennis, including state-of-the-art facilities, coaching, and an enhanced player pathway in Saudi Arabia.
In line with the efforts to promote tennis in Saudi Arabia, 22-time grand slam champion Rafael Nadal was recently announced as an ambassador of the Saudi Tennis Federation. Nadal will be involved in nurturing and planning the development of young players in the country, as well as generating interest in tennis among the youth. The WTA Tour has also been in discussions with Saudi Arabia regarding the potential staging of the WTA Finals in the Kingdom.
This milestone partnership between the ATP and PIF marks a significant advancement for the sport of tennis and signifies the growing global interest and investment in the game. With the shared goal of fostering talent, promoting inclusivity, and driving innovation, this collaboration is poised to shape a transformative new period of tennis progress.