International tennis recently made its first move towards the Saudi Arabia deal as WTA announced Riyadh as the new location for the year-end WTA Finals event. While everyone is looking forward to this decision from multiple perspectives that include either monetary or growth terms, former tennis pro Jimmy Connors recently came forward with a prophecy for the ATP side as well.

In the recent episode of the Advantage Connors podcast, tennis legend Jimmy Connors voiced his concerns regarding the decision to move the WTA Finals to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. He highlighted the impact of money on individual sports like tennis and golf, explaining the potential repercussions of such a move.

Connors stated, “A lot of things are thrown out of the window when money comes in.” Along with that, he also mentioned how the future can hold similar decisions to be made for ATP’s side as well. “It’s gonna be interesting to see how that is handled, if there’s any changes made on both sides. That’s another story I’d like to follow, if it’s into women’s, then it is gonna get into men’s,” he added, making an attention-seeking prophecy for men’s tennis.

The decision to host the WTA Finals in Riyadh marked Saudi Arabia’s latest venture into global sports. The move also brought a significant rise in the prize pot, with the women’s winnings rising from $9 million to a record $15.25 million.

Connors’ statement highlighted concerns about the increased chances of the decisions opening the gates for the ATP as well. He suggested that changes resulting from the deal might extend beyond the women’s game and impact men’s tennis as well. However, it isn’t just him who is anticipating the effects of this decision.

WTA’s chairman, Steve Simon, carries high aspirations with the recent move

While there’s still an ongoing debate about the intentions behind the decision to move the WTA Finals to Riyadh, the association’s CEO, Steve Simon, came forward with an explanation. Giving out his positive thoughts on the move, he mentioned how this would mark a new phase of growth for everyone associated with the sport.

“Our focus is on how we develop women’s tennis for the benefit of everybody involved in the game. The reality of it is … we are truly a global tour, a global business,” he said, explaining how demands met supply in this decision.

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Along with that, he also mentioned the fact that WTA pros Martina Navratilova and Chris Evert were also a part of the discussions before finalizing the shift. “We’ve met with Chris and Martina and listened to their concerns and we have shared their concerns through our stakeholders as well, without prejudice,” he added.

As the WTA stars prepare to take a tour of the new land, it remains to be seen if it gives rise to any advancements on the ATP side as well.

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