Tennis and Saudi Arabia; these words aren’t what you’d expect to feature in the same sentence. However, the fact is that Saudi Arabia is ready to welcome tennis with open arms, and it’s looking likelier with each passing day that tennis will accept the Middle Eastern Kingdom’s embrace. The NextGen Finals is on the verge of moving from Italy’s capital Milan to Saudi Arabia’s center of commerce, Jeddah. It’s a tournament created in 2017 for showcasing the best young talent tennis has to offer.

For Saudi Arabia, hosting the NextGen Finals would mark its first steps into the world of tennis. At the same time, the world of tennis is also set to benefit from the vast financial reserves the country boasts.

So far, competitive tennis has been a distant dream for Saudi Arabia

No one can deny Saudi Arabia’s rich history. However, when it comes to tennis, the country has so far drawn an embarrassing blank. In fact, it is yet to host its first competitive professional tennis match.

In December 2022, Saudi Arabia hosted the Diriyah Tennis Cup, which saw the participation of several iconic men’s players. However, it wasn’t a competitive tournament. It was an exhibition tournament.

Trending

Roger Federer Turns Teary Eyed Over Wife Mirka Breaking 15-Year Long Silence for His Upcoming Documentary

May 15, 2024 05:45 AM EDT

Coco Gauff’s Coach’s Call for a Serious Action Backfires After Fans Use the Occasion to Criticize American’s Shortcomings

May 14, 2024 01:30 PM EDT

Italian Open 2024: How Much Does Aryna Sabalenka or Iga Swiatek Will Earn if They Claim the Title?

May 18, 2024 02:39 PM EDT

Serena Williams’ Ex-Coach Rushes to Coco Gauff’s Defence Against a Nasty Troll Belittling Her US Open Glory

May 15, 2024 12:30 PM EDT

Italian Open: Aryna Sabalenka Channels Her Inner Model as She Sports Chic Outfit Inspired by the Streets of Rome

May 16, 2024 07:46 PM EDT

Get instantly notified of the hottest Tennis stories via Google! Click on Follow Us and Tap the Blue Star.

Follow Us

The Diriyah Tennis Cup featured the likes of Andrey Rublev, Daniil Medvedev, Taylor Fritz, Nick Kyrgios and Stefanos Tsitsipas. Despite the tournament’s exhibition status, the prize money on offer was a whopping $1 million for the winner. This served as motivation enough for Kyrgios, who chose the exhibition tournament over the Australia team for the Davis Cup. Ultimately, Taylor Fritz took home the money after a hard-fought contest against Daniil Medvedev.

Read More: Angry Russian Daniil Medvedev Riles up Tennis Fans as He Vents Out Typical Frustration in His Own Style at Mutua Madrid Open 2023

When it comes to women’s tennis, Saudi Arabia still has a long way to go

Right now, Saudi Arabia’s conservative stance towards the participation of women in sports is a stumbling block for the future prospects of women’s tennis in the country. If the NextGen Masters does move to Jeddah, the first couple of years are almost surely going to be exclusively men’s tournaments.

Despite the likelihood of the 2023 NextGen Masters being an all-men’s affair, it’s not all doom and gloom. This year, the tournament is set to benefit from Saudi Arabia’s financial prosperity. The winner this time will walk away with a whopping $2.5 million.

Watch This Story: Serena Williams’ Husband Alexis Ohanian Remains Tight Lipped Regarding Investment for Daughter Olympia