By Alberto Amalfi | @Tennis_Now | Friday, October 20, 2024
Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic will earn lucrative paydays—and absorb some criticism—squaring off a December exhibition.
In a rematch of the Wimbledon final, Alcaraz will face Djokovic in the Riyadh Season Tennis Cup, an exhibition set for December 27th in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
More: Slumping Rune Sent Packing
The pair join Aryna Sabalenka and Ons Jabeur, who will face off on December 28th.
Both matches will be held in Kingdom Arena, which was constructed and furnished with state-of-the-art technology in just 60 days. With a capacity to accommodate over 40,000 visitors, the venue has been purposefully designed to host international events, including the opening night’s international boxing bout during the Riyadh Season on October 28.
Some skeptics question why Djokovic, who has been critical of the ATP expanding some Masters 1000 events, would play an exhibition just weeks ahead of his Australian Open title defense. Others say Alcaraz, who opted out of Spain’s recent Davis Cup competition citing the length of the schedule, is putting his body at risk a year after he missed the 2023 Australian Open due to injury.
Saudi Arabia continues to invest in tennis and negotiate for Tour events. Some champions point to the nation’s human rights violations, the fact same sex activity for both men and women is illegal in Saudi Arabia and the blow back golf has incurred with its partnership with the Kingdom as reasons tennis should not do business with the nation.
“I suppose it’s only natural. Unfortunately it’s like money talks,” John McEnroe said. “That’s all that matters. But I don’t think that’s all that matters.
“Eventually you get bought out. It’s like at some point someone will offer too much.
“I don’t know why in the hell tennis would suddenly be, Let’s talk to the Saudis after the debacle that you’re watching in golf. To me it’s comical that it’s even being brought up right now. A pun: Par for the course.”
Photo credit: Matthew Stockman/Getty
