$2 Billion Saudi Heat Hits Tennis as Stan Wawrinka Minces No Words to Criticize the Grand Slams for Negligence
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MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – FEBRUARY 03: Stan Wawrinka of Switzerland looks on in his singles match against Mikhail Kukushkin of Kazakhstan during day three of the ATP 250 Murray River Open at Melbourne Park on February 03, 2021 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Jonathan DiMaggio/Getty Images)
After golf and soccer, tennis is the latest sport with links to Saudi Arabia. Recently, Saudi’s PIF made a massive $2 billion bid to take over the ATP and the WTA. The proposal included merging these two entities, something that would shake the sport completely. Many bigwigs in the tennis world are expressing concerns about this proposal. Swiss tennis star, Stan Wawrinka, is one among them.
Wawrinka has been one of the most successful players in the last decade apart from the Big Three. As he nears retirement, Wawrinka was left unimpressed with the massive $2 billion proposal put forth. Additionally, he even slammed the Grand Slams for not protecting the interests of the sport.
Stan Wawrinka’s brutal take on Grand Slams’ treatment of players
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Recently, the 3-time Grand Slam champion was involved in an interview where he opened up about the massive reforms put forth on account of the Saudi proposal. Wawrinka felt that it could have massive repercussions and slammed the major tournaments for not protecting the interests of tennis.
Wawrinka on the Premium Tour proposal: “The Grand Slams have zero transparency on their accounts. They do not work for the vision of the future of tennis, have no desire to work in the direction of the players and the youngest. Nothing in this project is good for anyone except them”
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Wawrinka revealed, “The Grand Slams have zero transparency on their accounts. They do not work for the vision of the future of tennis, have no desire to work in the direction of the players and the youngest. Nothing in this project is good for anyone except them.”
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Not only Wawrinka but also the likes of Patrick McEnroe and Brad Gilbert have expressed their concerns about Saudi’s proposal. Gilbert highlighted a massive conflict of interest if this deal goes through.
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Brad Gilbert doesn’t believe the ‘CEO’ should represent both sides
The legendary coach was concerned with the role of the CEOs of the ATP and the WTA after this deal went through. He pointed out a conflict of interest situation that would mar the sport.
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Gilbert revealed, “It’s a good thing we’re getting the ball rolling. A couple of things that definitely need to be addressed, both tours, the ATP and the WTA. It doesn’t work like this in professional sports that the CEO represents the players and the tournament. So that is a direct conflict of interest that the CEO represents both the sides.”
It remains to be seen how this proposal takes shape. Nonetheless, it is quite an eventful time to be a tennis fan.
Written by:
Edited by:
Arunima Bhanot