© 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 most effective factor for the gamers and one thing that will 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 will see the formation of an elite circuit which might be known 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 swap 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 supply with a 90-day expiration date to merge the boys’s and ladies’s Excursions. If accepted, the brand new Tour could be known as the “PIF Tour” however the 4 Grand Slams wouldn’t be part of it because it stands now.
Beneath that mannequin, female and male gamers could be paid equally and it could embody 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 gain advantage 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 positive, clearly the highest gamers are doing effectively however the one factor in golf that has dramatically modified is the No. 100 participant, you already know, 10 years in the past in tennis, we have been making comparable cash. Now the No. 100 participant in golf is making greater than the No. 10 participant in tennis,” Gilbert mentioned on CNBC’s Squawk Field.
“So typically competitors is not good, typically competitors is nice. So, hopefully, apart from this one Saudi supply with the ATP and WTA, now the Grand Slams are going to say, ‘You recognize what, we do not need this to occur, we will get our personal tour and attempt to get you on board.'”
Whereas tennis hanging a serious take care of Saudi Arabia appears inevitable, some are closely opposing tennis getting forming a partnership with the Saudis, citing issues relating to the nation’s human proper file. 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 everyone on this choice. There’s going to be some people who find themselves completely in opposition to it however this can be a participant’s choice, what they’ll determine, how they’ll transfer ahead,” Gilbert mentioned.
“And they’re taking the cash doing it in boxing, UFC, System 1, golf has performed it.”
“10 years in the past we have been making comparable cash. Now the #100 participant in golf is making greater than the #10 participant in tennis,” says @bgtennisnation on Saudi curiosity in tennis. “Generally competitors is not good, typically competitors is nice.” pic.twitter.com/vEO92DLr63
— Squawk Field (@SquawkCNBC) March 15, 2024
Gauff’s coach Gilbert suggests the Premium Tour is perhaps the higher choice
If the Premium Tour noticed the daylight, their streamlined calendar would very possible consist of 4 Grand Slams – 10 Masters tournaments – one crew occasion and in addition the season-ending event, the ATP Finals and WTA Finals.
On paper, the Premium Tour seems intriguing as a result of it could function solely top-level occasions that includes high gamers. Additionally, the truth that 4 Grand Slams are included in that mannequin provides 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 fully getting the brief finish of the stick,” Gilbert mentioned.
“If we get the identical supply 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 will take advantage of sense and I am extraordinarily hopeful that the Grand Slams now… They’re calling their Tour probably the ‘Premium Tour.’
“To me, there’s in all probability no room for 2 Excursions. So hopefully, they are going to determine one thing out and the gamers will get the windfall.”
When Gauff was requested in regards to the WTA probably 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 a number of the issues are performed there. But additionally, 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.
