Saudi Arabia's $2 Billion Bid to Merge WTA and ATP into Premier Tour

Saudi Arabia has proposed a significant $2 billion takeover bid for professional tennis, aiming to merge the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) and the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) Tours into a single entity, known as the 'Premier Tour'. This move has sparked discussions within the tennis community, with the so-called 'Premium Tour'—comprising the four Grand Slams and 10 mixed events—being seen as a rival to the Saudi plan. The bid has given tennis bosses a strict deadline for acceptance. The potential merger and investment have been covered by various journalists, highlighting the future of professional tennis and the implications of Saudi funding. Notably, the investment could also support a revived tour for senior players. The Premier Tour has proposed an alternative structure, including 4 Majors, 10 combined events, a team event, a race-based ranking system, a combined year-end final, and guaranteed off weeks after the season. Additionally, leaders of the men’s and women’s professional tours are attempting to secure $1 billion of investment from Saudi Arabia.