Racketville

Deep dives into tennis storylines you can talk about on the changeover.

[Racketville @racketville]

"With WTA's continued efforts to achieve equal prize money at all events, we are excited for the commitment that has been made by the Rome event to ensure this is in place by 2025,"
-Statement from the WTA in 2023

https://t.co/rVuJP6XIDU

[Racketville @racketville]

The women will earn less than the men in Rome despite commitment made in 2023 to pay equally by 2025

2025 Rome men's champion: $1,100,000
2025 Rome women's champion: $990,000

#IBI25 #WTA

[Racketville @racketville]

What’s at stake for the top 5 men at the Australian Open…

1. Jannik Sinner- Potential doping ban
2. Alexander Zverev- Needs a Major
3. Carlos Alcaraz- Career grand slam
4. Taylor Fritz- Playing his best tennis
5. Daniil Medvedev- 0-3 in AO Finals 💔

#AusOpen

[Racketville @racketville]

If you want a deeper dive into this subject- I did an explainer video that goes into detail on *almost* every aspect of the kingdom’s tennis takeover.
https://t.co/xI2RJvx3CA

[Racketville @racketville]

Now that the dust has settled on the WTA Finals in Saudi Arabia, here’s a thread on how pro tennis ended up there in the first place...
#WTAFinalsRiyadh

[Racketville @racketville]

This is all part of Saudi Arabia’s Vision2030, a comprehensive plan to diversify their economy away from oil.

Put simply, the Saudis are using their massive wealth to buy industries like pro sports that not only clean up their problematic image but provide new revenue streams in the future.

[Racketville @racketville]

Saudi Arabia’s first reach into modern pro tennis was in 2018 when Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal were invited to play in an exhibition match called the King Salman Tennis Championships.

This match never happened though. After the Saudi assassination of Jamal Khashoggi, Rafa and Novak said they were reconsidering. The event was canceled after Nadal withdrew, citing a minor ankle injury.

Roger Federer revealed that he had received an offer from the Saudis but turned it down.

[Racketville @racketville]

they both reached for the 🏆
#usopen @SabalenkaA @JPegula

[Racketville @racketville]

I was thinking about ALL the hate Yulia Putintseva got for this moment and have some thoughts…

The media and X dragged this woman for four days straight.

The Daily Mail put out six articles about this moment.

The replies on her X are some of the worst examples of online abuse I’ve ever seen.

Why did this happen?
#USOpen