"Maybe they’re seeing something that rest of the earth isn't" - Andy Roddick on Rafael Nadal & Billie Jean King supporting Saudi's interest in tennis
Andy Roddick recently shared his thoughts on Rafael Nadal and Billie Jean King's endorsement of Saudi Arabia's interest in tennis.
Andy Roddick's concerns about the current state of the women's year-end tournament
In the latest episode of the Served with Andy Roddick' podcast, Roddick expressed his concerns about the current state of the women's year-end tournament. He highlighted the issues that arose after the WTA decided to withdraw from hosting the event in China due to safety concerns surrounding Chinese player Peng Shuai.
Roddick said the WTA is doing a "disservice" to the women players by displaying a lack of leadership and leaving the tournament unorganized until the eleventh hour.
Andy Roddick then discussed the support shown by tennis legends Rafael Nadal and Billie Jean King towards Saudi Arabia's interest in the tennis scene. Earlier this year, Nadal was appointed as the ambassador for the Saudi Tennis Federation, while King has agreed to engage in discussions with the Kingdom regarding potential investments in the sport.
Andy Roddick's thoughts on Nadal and King's impact on the WTA
Roddick said that if the support provided by Nadal and King yields positive results for the WTA, all those who have criticized them will be forced to retract their words and acknowledge their impact.
The former US Open champion expressed that Rafael Nadal and Billie Jean King must have recognized some potential in Saudis to lend them their support.
"I can’t think of two more reputable, credible, and talented spokespeople for the game. So maybe they’re seeing something that you know the rest of the earth isn't, and maybe they can affect it, but I’m afraid that we won’t know that until it’s too late, and it’s hard to say that I hope their eyes are wide open," Andy Roddick added.
Andy Roddick's praise for Aryna Sabalenka's consistency
Earlier this month, Andy Roddick stated that Aryna Sabalenka is indisputably the most "consistent player" in the world at present.
During the 2024 Australian Open, Sabalenka defeated China's Zheng Qinwen 6-3, 6-2 in the final. That gave the Belarusian her second Melbourne Slam and also made her the first woman since 2013 to successfully defend her title at the Australian Open.
"She (Sabalenka) is the most consistent player in the world right now and I don't think it's up for debate at this point," Roddick said.
