He has bought his way to the top of football, golf, boxing and Formula 1 in an unprecedented shake-up of the established order of world sport.
Now tennis and billiards have become the last frontier of Saudi Arabia’s quest for an ever-expanding presence in the sector.
The Gulf King this month hired Rafael Nadal as an ambassador for the tennis federation, while the Public Investment Fund is also approaching partnerships with the Association of Tennis Professionals and the Women’s Tennis Association in what could be its biggest investment in an individual sport. Since the launch of LIV Golf.
ATP chief executive Andrea Gaudenzi is thought to be in Riyadh this week to finalize a sponsorship deal that will see PIF brand the courtside show at four tournaments and TV coverage of nine Masters 1000 events.
Meanwhile, WTA president Steve Simon is understood to be on the verge of approving his federation’s deal to bring the year-end finals to Saudi Arabia, and there are reports that talks have begun about the country hosting the International Tennis Federation’s Billie Jean King. Glass.
As with previous sports investments made by the state, all of these were met with serious opposition.
Nadal’s deal led to accusations from Amnesty International of participating in a “relentless sports-washing operation”. Telegram Sports Last week it was revealed that British tennis chiefs had rejected a bid for their flagship Queen’s and Eastbourne tournaments to become part of the ATP partnership.
It would be even more controversial if the WTA’s biggest event is held in a country where women and homosexuals are still marginalized or criminalised.
Tennis legends Martina Navratilova and Chris Evert opposed plans to hold last year’s finals in Riyadh. I wrote to Simon this week He declared that such a move was “completely contrary to the spirit and purpose of women’s tennis”.
King appeared more relaxed about the WTA embracing Saudi investment, saying last year: “I think they will be there. What I’m worried about is women. “If we go, I want change.”
Even if efforts to influence the tours are rebuffed, there is no sign that Saudi Arabia will move to poach tennis’ biggest stars, LIV Golf style.
In fact, his next goal is to bid to organize his 10th Masters 1000 event.
It could also play a key role in the power struggle between the sport’s four grand slams and two tours, including Wimbledon.
Tennis Australia chief executive Craig Tiley is behind plans to create a ‘Premier Tour’ of up to 18 major events that would see other ATP and WTA tournaments relegated to second-tier status.
Given that Barry and Eddie Hearn have led the way in bringing biggest sporting events to the country, such as the boxing world championships, snooker was never going to turn down a slice of the Saudi billions.
The only surprise is that it has taken this long for a tournament to be held here, with Barry Hearn announcing that he will launch a ranking event in Riyadh in 2019.
This was later shelved following the coronavirus crisis but, as Telegraph Sport revealed, he will start next season as part of a 10-year deal that includes £2.4 million in prize money on offer at the World Championship.
As with the Hearns, the news follows the launch of the even more glamorous Riyadh Season World Snooker Masters, which will include a new 23rd ball (the gold ‘Riyadh Season Ball’) to increase the maximum potential break to 167.
Buying Saudi petrodollars is unlikely to meet much resistance from top players; Ronnie O’Sullivan will headline the new invitational tournament in March, and an announcement on the 128-player qualifying event is expected to be made before the World Championships in April.
But Saudi investment will inevitably reignite debate about the future of snooker’s own flagship tournament, which has been held at the Crucible Theater in Sheffield since 1977. The current deal expires after 2027, and Hearn has long spoken of interest from countries such as China, saying: Last year Qatar asked for information on its future availability.
It seems unlikely that the Saudis will stop at tennis and billiards. The Hearns also run the Professional Darts Company; After Luke Littler’s epic run to the World Championship final, the sport has never been bigger. But it’s hard to see the beer-heavy Alexandra Palace atmosphere being replicated in Riyadh.
Cricket is also beginning to attract Saudi investment; The International Cricket Council and the Indian Premier League are reaching agreement on partnerships with state-owned oil giant Aramco.
There is even talk that the country will launch a lucrative Twenty20 tournament, with cricket board chairman Prince Saud bin Mishal al-Saud announcing last year his intention to make the country a “global cricket destination”.
Of course, football will be at the heart of their plans until hosting the 2034 World Cup is confirmed; It doesn’t look like it will be derailed by setbacks like Jordan Henderson’s departure from Al-Ettifaq this week.
In fact, rugby appears to be the only major sport untouched by Saudi riches, despite reports that the country may consider holding the 2035 World Cup.
The logical outcome of all this is, of course, participation in the biggest sporting event, the Olympics.
Saudi Arabia has already secured the 2034 Asian Games and its equivalent in winter 2029 (yes, you read that right).
Qatar’s Olympic bids have previously failed due to the International Olympic Committee’s reluctance to extend them beyond the summer window.
But the Saudis have proven time and time again that all bets are off when it comes to buying what they want.