SA20 future in doubt as Big Bash sale process squeezes cricket investment Sport Business The SA20 franchise tournament is facing an uncertain financial future amid the threat of fresh competition for funding from Cricket Australia’s Big Bash, which is preparing to sell off stakes in its franchises to private investors later this year. All six SA20 franchises are owned by Indian Premier League teams, many of whom have expressed [...]
Battle of the Sexes tennis: Billie Jean King says it’s just entertainment Sport Business Billie Jean King has distanced herself from this year’s Battle of the Sexes tennis showdown, insisting hers was about “social change”, while the 2025 edition is “entertainment”. World number one Aryna Sabalenka will take on Australian Nick Kyrgios in a Battle of the Sexes match in Dubai on 30 December. King famously beat self-proclaimed chauvinist [...]
WTA and Mercedes-Benz pen decade-long deal said to be worth $500m Sport Business The WTA (Women’s Tennis Association) has penned a decade-long partnership agreement with Mercedes-Benz believed to be worth as much as $500m (£376m). The deal, announced at the Mercedes factory in Stuttgart with WTA co-founder Billie Jean King and 20-time grand slam winner Roger Federer in attendance, will see the automotive behemoth become a “premier partner” [...]
Tennis stars on collision course with Grand Slams over reforms September 24, 2025 Leading tennis players including Jannik Sinner and Aryna Sabalenka are understood to be unhappy with the Grand Slams about a lack of progress over welfare, prize money and consultation reforms. The top 10 players from the men’s ATP and women’s WTA tours have been in discussions with Wimbledon, the French Open, the US Open and [...]
Sue Barker rebuffed approach from Sky Sports to front tennis coverage June 30, 2025 Tennis broadcasting stalwart Sue Barker has revealed she rebuffed an approach to work for Sky Sports as the former face of Wimbledon’s BBC coverage remains away from the cameras. The former French Open winner left the BBC in 2022 after a 30-year broadcasting career which included fronting the Wimbledon Championships and Queen’s, as well as [...]
WTA Ventures: Queen’s, CVC Capital Partners and an organisation pushing on June 16, 2025 After a successful week of WTA tennis at Queen’s, WTA Ventures chief Marina Storti discusses the state of the sport, its private equity partner CVC Capital Partners and a potential merger with the ATP. When 37-year-old Tatjana Maria upset the odds to win the HSBC Championships in front of 9,000 fans on Sunday, she became [...]
WTA Tour offers protected status for players freezing eggs June 11, 2025 Women’s tennis players who freeze their eggs or embryos will now get their ranking protected by the WTA Tour. The revolutionary move will allow those who wish to delay starting a family by freezing eggs to not have their tour rankings diminished by taking time away from tennis. It will mean female players can ensure [...]
Tennis at war as Alcaraz opposes legal action by Djokovic union PTPA March 20, 2025 Wimbledon champion Carlos Alcaraz insists he does not support legal action taken against the ATP and WTA Tours by Novak Djokovic’s Professional Tennis Players’ Association (PTPA). The PTPA this week brought lawsuits “on behalf of the entire player population” against tennis chiefs, alleging that they abused their dominant position to the detriment of players’ welfare. [...]
Tennis: Djokovic, Kyrgios and others sue ATP and WTA Tours March 18, 2025 Novak Djokovic, Nick Kyrgios and other tennis stars are suing the ATP and WTA Tours, as well as the International Tennis Federation, in multiple jurisdictions. The striking move comes as part of a wider claim from the Professional Tennis Players Association, the organisation set up by 24-time Grand Slam winner Djokovic in conjunction with former [...]
Six Nations investors CVC bids $1bn for major tennis competitions March 3, 2025 Private equity giant CVC Capital Partners are set to bid for a portfolio of high-profile tennis events worth £790m that includes the Madrid and Miami Opens. It could see the Six Nations investor add to its existing tennis interests, which include a commercial joint venture with the WTA launched in 2023. The portfolio – currently [...]