“Saudi have figured out how to buy math,” Andy Roddick dishes honest opinion about the Saudis intervention in tennis as he expresses utter confusion

Saudi Arabia's tennis investments is making people take notice of the country.

“Saudi have figured out how to buy math,” Andy Roddick dishes honest opinion about the Saudis intervention in tennis as he expresses utter confusion

Andy Roddick (Via Imago)

The fast pace of Saudi Arabia’s growing interest in tennis has led Andy Roddick to blast them for their expressed desire to buy the ATP rankings. The American shed some light on the Middle East interest in his podcast “Served!”

The Saudis have gained immense influence in tennis, to the amazement of many followers of the sport. The Arab country first signed a deal with ATP NexGen to host the tournament from 2023 to 2027. Later, they hosted an exhibition that saw the likes of Novak Djokovic, Carlos Alcaraz, and Aryna Sabalenka feature.

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The most recent is the King Six exhibition in October which will see several Top-10 players compete in Riyadh, including Rafael Nadal.

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Andy Roddick, in his chat with Jon Wertheim on his podcast, was puzzled by the Saudis using their sovereign wealth PIF to secure the ATP rankings. He hinted that the match doesn’t make sense and it will affect the WTA in the future.

I’m trying to figure out how you buy I said, How do you buy math? I guess the Saudis have figured out how to even buy math. I don’t I don’t understand. It’s a set algorithm. Like it’s a set ranking system. So it’s just what every time we say the ATP rankings we say the ATP, PIF rankings, like, what does this look?

The rumor of a negotiation between the WTA Finals organizers and Saudis sparked a backlash from several players and legends including Roddick. However, nothing is confirmed yet, as neither the WTA nor ATP have released any information concerning it.

Andy Roddick hints at positive change from Saudi development

Roddick also feels that things might change as tennis’s biggest stars Rafael Nadal and legend Billie Jean King get more involved with Saudi Arabia tennis. He revealed this in an episode of Served, his podcast.

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Billie Jean King, Andy Roddick, Rafael Nadal (Images via Imago)

Recently Rafael Nadal was appointed Saudi Tennis Federation’s ambassador. On the other hand, Billie Jean King will engage with the Arab country concerning a potential investment in women’s tennis.

If five years from now, Rafa and Billie Jean King all of a sudden pull this off and things do change, everyone who’s against it has to eat crow a little bit. We do need to have an open mind towards a result that is different from what we suspect or anticipate if it does happen.
Andy Roddick

Roddick added that despite the positive change in the development between Saudi and ATP and WTA, there should be scrutiny of deals to make sure nothing gets wrong down the road.

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