Nick Kyrgios looks like he would welcome Saudi Arabia investment in tennis after stating "we are going to get paid what we deserve" on social media.
The Australian star, who made the final of Wimbledon last summer, has never been shy of speaking his mind and is the first major name in the sport to address the media reports. Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) has continued to flex its financial muscles with major moves in football and golf.
Tennis could be next after talks were held with ATP chairman, Andrea Gaudenzi, according to the Financial Times. Kyrgios seems to be on board with the cash injection, which would no doubt filter through to the players with the Australian currently ranked No.33 in the world.
He said on Twitter, accompanied with money bag emojis: “Finally. They see the value. We are going to get paid what we deserve to get paid. Sign me up.”
Kyrgios's career earnings are listed as more than $12m (£9.4m) on the ATP website. The four Grand Slams are run by separate entities despite being part of the tennis tour, meaning any investment in the ATP wouldn't necessarily affect the sport's major tournaments.
Nevertheless, headline ATP Tour tournaments, most notably the end of season finals, are particularly lucrative. Last season the winner, Novak Djokovic, bagged $4.7m (£3.6m) after winning the final against Casper Ruud.
Tennis Australia chief, Craig Tiley, is confident tennis won’t face the threat of a divisive breakaway group like LIV Golf, which cut through the sport until a recent agreement was reached.
He said: “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. 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.”
Tiley also added: “We work closely together, constantly work closely together in the best interest of the sport. I think they can do a lot better – those seven governing bodies – about doing a lot more work together but we’re on that track of at least having those conversations where a few years ago that was not taking place.
“The sport of tennis is in a healthy place right now because there is that conversation, probably unlike in other sports where there was not that conversation – and the four slams are very influential in the decision making.”
