Indian Wells, Miami, Madrid, Beijing… All Masters 1000 category tournaments having obtained commercial partnerships with the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF). The National Bank Open (OBN) in Montreal, for its part, does not appear on the list of tournaments having accepted a major sponsorship from the financial arm of the government of Saudi Arabia. For what ?
“We did not have a decision to make, because we were not contacted by the PIF,” responded very clearly Valérie Tétreault, director of the tournament, the day after an article published in The Press about the PIF’s ambitions to take control of professional tennis.
Like his counterparts at other tournaments on the ATP and WTA circuits, Tétreault follows each of the new developments concerning this issue with great interest. Ultimately, if the PIF manages to put its plan into action, the repercussions will be considerable for the Montreal tournament.
“What happened with golf, it gives us the impression that there is a threat that is real,” she notes about the arrival of the LIV Golf series and the immense earthquake caused in the world of professional golf three years ago.
PHOTO HUGO-SÉBASTIEN AUBERT, LA PRESSE ARCHIVES
Valérie Tétreault, director of the National Bank Open
In short, if we briefly ignore the source of potential revenue from which professional tennis could benefit, the group’s mission and the broad outlines of its long-term plan are laudable, she admits.
Obviously, offering equal and parity scholarships, bringing the two circuits under the same governance and offering tennis as a gift to a new fan base could substantially propel the sport that defined Tétreault’s life and career.
But the elephant in the room can be identified by three letters. And the government which is at the origin is still severely criticized by the various international organizations for its non-respect of individual freedoms, in particular with regard to women, whose freedom of expression and powers are extremely limited.
“Am I 100% comfortable with everything I’m seeing and everything that’s happening right now? No, necessarily, adds Tétreault. I remain a woman who has values, who is aware of what is happening and who knows that problems exist that go against my values. »
The other perspective
As a woman and as a mother, Tétreault understands the extent of the discomfort linked to the arrival of such an actor in the North American sporting world. The director and former WTA player also knows to what extent things are not just black and white and that an opportunity like the one offered by the Saudis is not only extremely rare, but potentially life-saving.
When I put on my tournament director hat, I am part of the Masters 1000 group and I could not do otherwise, I think, than to line up behind the group.
Valérie Tétreault, director of the National Bank Open
The WTA, victim of the retirement of its biggest stars, combined with the monopoly of men’s tennis in the media and partisan sphere, is seeing its assets fall into the red. So not only are its athletes losing recognition, but the circuit itself was also in a deficit of $15 million last year.
“At the moment, in governance, there is the ATP, the WTA, the ITF and the four Grand Slam tournaments which are independent, and that gives a structure which is not simple and which does not serve us always. When trying to explain tennis to a new fan, it’s not easy to do. So sport could absolutely benefit from a governance structure that would be a little more aligned, a little simpler,” notes the director of the OBN.
For the players
Tétreault worked on the WTA circuit in the 2000s. She knows how complicated it can be to be financially comfortable for a player playing outside the top 100.
Like old 112e world, she is aware that the possible inflow of money could be beneficial.
Nothing has been done yet, but the way things are evolving, the question is how we can ensure that we turn this into a positive.
Valérie Tétreault, director of the National Bank Open
There is nothing done yet, she rightly specifies, but we should expect a positive and optimistic response from players to the arrival of this important player in the ecosystem. “There are many who say that perhaps we can contribute to change and that we can turn this positively. I have the impression that this is the line we are likely to hear to justify this choice. »
In the meantime, Tétreault’s choice has not yet been made, because she is caught between the tree and the bark. She may not even have to choose if this eventuality is forced on her, but the OBN director is coming to terms with the idea that her sport is about to change. “A clever person can predict how this will all end, but what seems pretty clear to me is that it won’t be the status quo. »
Read “Professional tennis soon in Saudi hands”
reference: www.lapresse.ca