Nick Kyrgios welcomes Saudi money as CEO says tennis divide unlikely

Nick Kyrgios has given his emphatic support to the Saudi push towards tennis as the Australian Open boss says he is watching closely.

Nick Kyrgios splayed at an exhibition event in Riyadh alongside Stefanos Tsitsipas last year. Picture: Alexander Scheuber / Getty Images

Tennis star Nick Kyrgios is excitedly welcoming fresh Saudi interest in the sport as Australian Open boss Craig Tiley says he thinks the game can avoid division.

Saudi Arabia is poised to invest heavily in the men’s ATP tour after significant forays into golf and soccer, with the under-21 Next Gen tournament set to find a new home in Jeddah and at least one other major event in the Gulf nation’s sights.

Kyrgios, who last year skipped the Davis Cup to compete for a $1.5m prize at an exhibition event in the Saudi capital of Riyadh, said players would be “paid what we deserve” if the nation secured ATP events.

“Finally. They see the value. We are going to get paid what we deserve to get paid. Sign me up,” he wrote on Twitter on Tuesday morning.

Nick Kyrgios skipped out on Australia’s Davis Cup campaign to vie for a huge prize pool at a Saudi exhibition tournament last year. Picture: Mark Stewart

The Saudi-backed rebel LIV tour threatened to tear apart golf last year, but Australian Open boss Tiley said the nation talking directly to the ATP about an investment suggested there would not be any such division in tennis.

“What’s different to what we’re seeing (in other sports) is this is an investment in the current structure of the game and not an investment in an alternative option,” Tiley said.

“But like everything in the world, there’s lots of changes always going on, so you’ve got to watch what’s going on and stay close to it.

“But, ultimately, that’s a decision for the men’s and the women’s tour.”

Tiley said he agreed with Kyrgios that tennis players were underpaid.

“We’ve done it as a grand slam – we’ve done the best we can to compensate the players. In fact, this year there was over $100m in prizemoney on offer for a period of four weeks for both men and women,” he said.

Australian Open boss Craig Tiley says he will watch closely as Saudi Arabia seeks to become involved in the ATP tour. Picture: Graham Denholm / Getty Images

“Our view is that if men get paid a certain amount, the women need to be paid the same amount, and vice versa, so we’ve always held that position and always will hold that position.

“The more players, not just the top players, who can make a good living, the healthier it is for the sport.”

Tiley said Kyrgios could get “on a roll” at Wimbledon if he got through his first few matches, backing the world No.33 to be fit to play after withdrawing from the Halle and Mallorca opens this month due to an ongoing knee problem.

“I’ll get a better feel for that when I’m right in front of him, having a chat to him – which will be from tomorrow – but Nick loves the grass,” Tiley said.

“Last year he was in the finals, and he got better and better as the event progressed. He loves competing out there, and I know he wants nothing more than to be ready and playing at Wimbledon.”

Originally published as Nick Kyrgios welcomes Saudi money as CEO says tennis divide unlikely