Three-time Grand Slam winner Stanislas Wawrinka and world No 4 Daniil Medvedev are the star names signed up for the first international tennis tournament to be held in Saudi Arabia later this year.
Eight of the world’s leading men’s tennis players will contest the Diriyah Tennis Cup just outside of Riyadh from December 12-14.
Swiss star Wawrinka, 34, who as well as winning the Australian, French and US Opens also boasts Olympic gold from the 2016 Rio Games, will be joined by Medveded, the Russian enjoying a breakthrough year in 2019 with three titles as well as reaching his first Grand Slam final in September when he lost an epic encounter to Rafael Nadal.
Also confirmed for the event at the 15,000-capacity Diriyah Arena is world No 12 Fabio Fognini, the first Italian to win an ATP Masters 1000 title this year in Monte Carlo, as well as world No 7 David Goffin.
The remaining four players will be announced in the coming weeks. The eight players will be battling it out for the total prize of $3 million (Dh11m).
Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Faisal, chairman of the General Sports Authority of Saudi Arabia (GSA), said: "Hosting world class international tennis in Saudi Arabia for the very first time is another watershed moment for the Kingdom. There's a deep passion for sport in Saudi Arabia and the Diriyah Tennis Cup will see us reaching new tennis fans, welcome even more international visitors as well as creating amazing memories for all."
The tournament forms part of the Diriyah season which will include Diriyah E-Prix, "Clash On The Dunes", the heavyweight boxing rematch between Andy Ruiz Jr and Anthony Joshua, and Diriyah Equestrian Festival, in addition to other entertainment and cultural activities from November 22 to December 21.
As well as welcoming the world’s best players, the Diriyah Tennis Cup will work alongside the Saudi Tennis Federation to use the tournament as an opportunity to inspire Saudi players, new fans and followers of the game.
“Our vision is to achieve greater participation in sport – hosting the world’s best tennis players here can only help to achieve our goals. Sport provides incredible opportunities to engage and inspire people; tennis provides another platform for us to do that in the Kingdom,” Prince Abdulaziz added.
