Andy Murray has been talking about what the future might hold for the ATP Tour.
He reveals his hopes in the coming years, but admits he expects little to change in a positive way.
This comes after he implored the sport to add a South American leg to the tour, which was a notion well-received by the bulk of the community. Even Boris Becker rushed to support his ‘unpopular opinion’.
But what has the 36-year-old said now about the ATP tour? We take a closer look…
What Andy Murray has said about the ATP Tour
Speaking to The National News, the Scotsman was frank in his assessment of the future of tennis.
As more and more sports are tempted by the unending financial backing that Saudi Arabia can provide, it almost feels like an inevitability that tennis will be the next to succumb to that pressure.
After all, golf has been turned upside down by their involvement, and sides like Manchester City, Paris Saint-Germain and Newcastle United are all now funded by free-spending Middle-Eastern owners seeking to solidify their place at the apex of football.
Murray is wary of this, and noted: ‘Tennis is in a difficult spot just now because I don’t think anyone knows exactly what’s next. I know there’s issues between Tennis Australia and the ATP; the Grand Slams and the ATP and the WTA.
‘There’s obviously been discussions with Saudi Arabia and the PIF; who’s going to work with them and what’s that going to look like? Will that be a tournament that happens there? Will it be multiple tournaments? Will there be like this ‘premier super tour’ that the Slams are creating with Saudi Arabia? I don’t know. I don’t know what it’s going to look like.
‘Everyone’s looking out for their best interests and that’s not always the best thing for the sport. Everyone is sort of fighting a bit with each other and it would be much easier if everyone actually worked together for the common good. And I don’t know. That’s what I hope will happen; I’d say it’s unlikely.’
Tennis is in an awkward spot at the moment
Because of this looming possibility, it kind of puts tennis in a hugely awkward position.
After all, it seems like an impossible job to deny this financial backing, the likes of which few others on the planet can compete with.
And unfortunately, in this modern world, money always talks.
It has done in football, and it seems to be doing so in golf, with many of the biggest boxing matches now also being shipped overseas.
With tennis seemingly one of the world’s biggest sports that remains largely untouched, it feels like a matter of time before they give in to pressure and confirm Murray’s fears.
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