© Getty Photographs Sport – Matthew Stockman
Coco Gauff’s coach Brad Gilbert is all in for tennis partnering up with Saudi Arabia as he believes that is the perfect factor for the gamers and one thing that might lastly give the gamers throughout the ATP and WTA Excursions to be compensated as they deserve.
In late 2023, the rumors started to swirl round that the Grand Slams and Masters occasions could also be trying to make a proposal to the Saudis that might see the formation of an elite circuit which might be referred to as the “Premium Tour.” However beneath that mannequin, ATP and WTA tournaments from the five hundred and 250 would undergo big-time as a result of all the highest and finest gamers would change to the Premium Tour.
The ATP and WTA seen what was occurring behind the scenes and reacted by beginning to work on their very own proposal to the Saudis. And a few days in the past, The Telegraph reported that the Saudis gave the ATP and WTA a $2 billion provide with a 90-day expiration date to merge the boys’s and girls’s Excursions. If accepted, the brand new Tour could be referred to as the “PIF Tour” however the 4 Grand Slams wouldn’t be part of it because it stands now.
Underneath that mannequin, female and male gamers could be paid equally and it might embrace a Masters 1000 occasion within the first week of the season and the WTA Finals would even be staged in Riyadh.
Gauff’s coach Gilbert on why a possible Saudi deal may benefit tennis big-time
Gilbert, who famously labored with Andre Agassi for eight years and has been Gauff’s coach since final summer season, believes it’s time the tennis gamers begin seeing a very notable improve in prize cash.
“One factor is for certain, clearly the highest gamers are doing effectively however the one factor in golf that has dramatically modified is the No. 100 participant, you realize, 10 years in the past in tennis, we had been making related cash. Now the No. 100 participant in golf is making greater than the No. 10 participant in tennis,” Gilbert stated on CNBC’s Squawk Field.
“So generally competitors is not good, generally competitors is nice. So, hopefully, in addition to this one Saudi provide with the ATP and WTA, now the Grand Slams are going to say, ‘You realize what, we do not need this to occur, we will get our personal tour and attempt to get you on board.'”
Whereas tennis placing a significant take care of Saudi Arabia appears inevitable, some are closely opposing tennis getting forming a partnership with the Saudis, citing considerations relating to the nation’s human proper report. When requested to share his ideas that, Gilbert famous that a number of different main sports activities are already companions with Saudi Arabia.
“You are not going to please all people on this determination. There’s going to be some people who find themselves completely in opposition to it however this can be a participant’s determination, what they are going to resolve, how they are going to transfer ahead,” Gilbert stated.
“And they’re taking the cash doing it in boxing, UFC, System 1, golf has carried out it.”
“10 years in the past we had been making related cash. Now the #100 participant in golf is making greater than the #10 participant in tennis,” says @bgtennisnation on Saudi curiosity in tennis. “Typically competitors is not good, generally competitors is nice.” pic.twitter.com/vEO92DLr63
— Squawk Field (@SquawkCNBC) March 15, 2024
Gauff’s coach Gilbert suggests the Premium Tour may be the higher choice
If the Premium Tour noticed the daylight, their streamlined calendar would very doubtless consist of 4 Grand Slams – 10 Masters tournaments – one workforce occasion and in addition the season-ending event, the ATP Finals and WTA Finals.
On paper, the Premium Tour seems to be intriguing as a result of it might characteristic solely top-level occasions that includes high gamers. Additionally, the truth that 4 Grand Slams are included in that mannequin offers further weight to that mannequin.
Personally, Gilbert is extra for the Premium Tour mannequin and would like it over the PIF Tour.
“The gamers proper now in my humble opinion are utterly getting the brief finish of the stick,” Gilbert stated.
“If we get the identical provide from the Grand Slams to do the Tour, I would say ‘Go together with the Grand Slams’, as a result of they already management the 4 greatest tournaments and that might take advantage of sense and I am extraordinarily hopeful that the Grand Slams now… They’re calling their Tour doubtlessly the ‘Premium Tour.’
“To me, there’s most likely no room for 2 Excursions. So hopefully, they may determine one thing out and the gamers will get the windfall.”
When Gauff was requested in regards to the WTA doubtlessly inking a take care of Saudi Arabia sooner or later, the top-ranked American feminine tennis star famous she wasn’t a fan of how among the issues are carried out there. But in addition, Gauff indicated that she would play in Saudi Arabia however that she could be wanting to make use of her time there to spark a constructive change and make a distinction.