Archive October 23, 2025

Saudi Arabia to host new ATP tournament from 2028

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Beginning in 2028, Saudi Arabia will host a new ATP Masters 1000 tennis event.

Another indication of the Gulf state’s growing pull will be a 56-man field competing in a one-week competition, which will likely take place in February.

Saudi Arabia hosts the WTA Finals and the Next Gen ATP Finals, and its Public Investment Fund (PIF) serves as the official naming partner for both the ATP and WTA rankings.

The new tournament will not be required because players are so concerned about the length of the season and how many games they compete in.

According to ATP chairman Andrea Gaudenzi, “we are dealing with players who are independent contractors, so they are ultimately free to choose their own schedule.”

They also perform outside the system, which was just revealed last week at the Saudi Arabian Six Kings Slam exhibition.

I do agree that the off-season is too brief for the players, but I also believe it is too brief for the fans, who will need to take a break from our sport at some point.

Since the concept’s conception in 1990, the Masters 1000 category has expanded for the first time.

What does the workload for players mean?

The players are currently required to play Monte Carlo, which is the only Masters 1000 available right now.

A player who skips the new Saudi event would not be able to claim his portion of the annual bonus, and under the current regulations, he could claim some of the ranking points that were given up at other tournaments.

Seven of the nine previous Masters events are now being held over a 12-day period, which has turned out to be unpopular with many players.

The new Saudi tournament will only last a week, with an announcement still to be made.

As the ATP tries to streamline the end-of-season tournaments, it will fit into a 2028 schedule with a slightly different look and possibly finish at least a week earlier.

“Obviously, we need to be in the same room as the Grand Slams, the ITF, and the WTA, which is not the case, and is something I’ve been pushing for four years,” Gaudenzi continued.

There is a lot more opportunity in the modern world, which also means there is a lot more opportunity, and there is a lot more temptation to play both online and offline.

However, the top athletes in our sport have a tendency to say no and prioritize the Slams, Masters, and ATP Finals primarily because of this.

Players have previously expressed frustration with the already crowded tennis calendar, with Carlos Alcaraz saying in some way in September 2024: “They are going to kill us in some way.”

British alumnus Jack Draper stated earlier this month that players must “adapt” the tour and the calendar to achieve professional longevity.

Holger Rune, who is the latest high-profile player to have his season prematurely ended by injury, joined Emma Raducanu from Britain, Daria Kasatkina from Australia, Elina Svitolina from Ukraine, and Paula Badosa from Spain on the women’s WTA Tour.

What role will the tournament play on the calendar?

With the decision to choose Saudi Arabia one of the sport’s worst kept secrets, it has been more than eighteen months since bidding invitations were sent to Saudi Arabia, Dubai, Doha, Abu Dhabi, and Australia.

Up until a vote earlier this year, a 10th Masters event had always been planned, but it would have had to be held in either the first week of the year or on grass before Wimbledon.

However, it could happen at any time and is anticipated to be held in February, the same month that the ATP will be traveling to Dubai and Doha.

Because the date is likely to upset someone, the ATP is not confirming that in public.

Since most of its leading men would no longer play in the country in the lead up to the Australian Open, Tennis Australia would consider staging the tournament in Saudi Arabia in the first week of the year to be viewed as hostile.

Players may avoid traditional clay court competitions like those in Rio de Janeiro and Buenos Aires and European indoor competitions like those in Rotterdam by scheduling it in February.

The Middle East and South America tournaments would be one of the best ways to organize them, with the European competitions moving to later in the year.

The Saudi tournament’s prize pool is unknown at this time, but the ATP has set a minimum prize pool for all Masters 1000 competitions.

Next week’s Paris Masters, which also has a 56-man field, is offering the minimum of 6, 128, 940 euros (£5, 328, 338).

As long as the prize money is distributed evenly throughout the draw, tournaments are permitted to award more prizes.

In the future, will Saudi hold a women’s tournament?

The new Saudi tournament, which will be the seventh ATP and WTA 1000 combined event, has not yet been made public.

Existing owners, including those in Doha and Dubai, would be able to veto any expansion plans if one were to be sold. There are currently no additional licenses for WTA 1000 events.

However, it might change in the future.

According to Danny Townsend, the CEO of SURJ Sports Investment, a PIF company, “we’re very cognizant of serving both the men’s and women’s games.”

“It would be great to have them on in Saudi Arabia at the same time, or at least in sequence. We would never say never and look into it if it were to turn out to be an option, even though that wasn’t at this time.

In recent years, Saudi Arabia has made significant investments in boxing, golf, and football.

However, the country has long been criticized for its lack of human rights, particularly in light of how women are treated and homosexuality is made illegal.

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Five huge stars Quentin Tarantino would only ever work with once

Not all of them were willing to work with him again because of his reputation for putting on memorable roles that were customized to each actor’s strengths.

Because the director is known for frequently casting his favorite actors, Samuel L. Jackson, Michael Madsen, and James Parks have all appeared on screen in at least four Quentin Tarantino movies.

The respected filmmaker can create his cinematic gems with familiar faces in this manner.

Tarantino is known for making movies with particular actors in mind.

A true film aficionado, Tarantino boasts an extensive knowledge of his craft. With a repertoire that includes Django Unchained, Jackie Brown, Pulp Fiction, Kill Bill, and Reservoir Dogs, the American director has consistently delivered box office smashes.

While he often works with the same actors across multiple films – such as Uma Thurman, who starred in three of his movies, and Tim Roth, who also appeared in three Tarantino classics – not all actors have been invited back, reports the Express.

Numerous stars, including some household names, have only ever worked with the renowned director, despite rumors, and some never even made the cut. Some of the actors featured here have lacked contact with the legendary director.

Smith, Will

Smith, Will never actually shared screen time with the esteemed director, but he was once seriously considered for the lead role in Django Unchained. Despite being approached for the part, the casting ultimately fell through.

The collaboration reportedly fell apart because of clashing creative perspectives between the actor and director. According to YouTube channel Backstage Whispers, both men had completely different visions for Django.

After Smith’s official exit due to diary conflicts, Jamie Foxx eventually secured the role with a commanding audition.

Tarantino wanted annoyance, violence, and moral ambiguity, the channel revealed. No one was willing to compromise, so the deal fell apart as Smith fought for a redemptive arc.

Bruce Willis

Bruce Willis, a member of the Die Hard franchise, dominated as Hollywood’s most acclaimed action hero and A-list star throughout the 1990s. While filming Pulp Fiction in 1994, the action legend reportedly demanded crystal-clear character explanations and straightforward explanations.

Willis allegedly insisted on always understanding the psychology of his character, but Tarantino refuses to give actors too much of a detail.

After meeting with producer Harvey Weinstein, Willis expressed interest in working with Tarantino because he enjoyed Reservoir Dogs.

However, things changed. Willis’s statement, “Few people will work with him now, and I know I will never work with him again,” was made during a conversation about The Expendables 2 in 2012 by Farout magazine. A screaming director doesn’t make for a pleasant set experience, despite the excellent crew. However, look, we all survived the hardships.

Throughout the entire filming of Pulp Fiction, Willis and the director engaged in heated exchanges, which, in Willis’ opinion, lasted until the conflict reached a boiling point.

The pair have never collaborated again despite being able to create what would become a classic.

George Clooney

George Clooney, who had just returned from his ER television success, was a star in Robert Rodriguez’ and Tarantino’s 1996 blockbuster.

With Tarantino portraying Clooney’s brother in the movie, their working relationship blossomed.

Only once did the pair communicate, and later comments made the pair frosty.

In an interview, Tarantino said that Clooney wasn’t a real movie star.

In a GQ interview, Clooney responded that he had been “a little irritated” by Tarantino’s remarks and that he was now like, “all right, dude, ****off.” I don’t mind giving him ****. He gave me ****”.

Robert DeNiro

DeNiro was a star in Tarantino’s 1997 triumph Jackie Brown, which also had Pam Greer as a supporting actor.

De Niro and Tarantino have only collaborated once, despite Tarantino’s enormous admiration and praise for their acting prowess.

For their one and only partnership, there have been a number of unproven theories, including those involving the star’s fee.

John Travolta

Screen legend John Travolta only worked with Tarantino on the set of Pulp Fiction, where he portrayed Vincent Vega, like Willis. The director was praised for casting him in this powerful role in the 1990s, which helped revive Travolta’s career.

One of the biggest stars of his time, Travolta, according to Far Out magazine, but a string of poor choices and subpar movies had stifled his popularity by the early 1990s, the year Tarantino launched Pulp Fiction.

Continue reading the article.

Shamed Prince Andrew’s reduced life inside crumbling Royal Lodge with odd hobbies

Prince Andrew has hid himself in his crumbling Royal Lodge home where it has emerged what he does all day after announcing he would be giving up his titles.

Prince Andrew has holed himself up at his Royal Lodge home ever since new allegations began to emerge about his association with Jeffrey Epstein.

After announcing he was to give up his Duke of York title, Andrew has shut himself off from the outside world inside his sprawling Windsor estate. Revelations in the posthumous memoir of Andrew’s sex accuser, Virginia Giuffre, have placed increasing pressure on the King’s brother. Andrew denies all the claims. And while he stay inside the confines of Royal Lodge, the terms on which Andrew is allowed to live there have also come under fire.

READ MORE: Prince Andrew bombshell update as MPs investigate crumbling Royal Lodge fundsREAD MORE: Prince Louis’ future title ‘thrown into doubt’ after Prince Andrew scandal alarm bells

Since 2003, Andrew has paid $1 million for the lease and another $ 7.5 million for renovations to the 30-room mansion.

In response to calls for a parliamentary inquiry, the Prime Minister also stated just yesterday that Andrew’s rent-free mansion should be subject to “proper scrutiny.”

Andrew hasn’t left the massive home he shares with ex-wife Sarah Ferguson since he abruptly cut himself out of public life in 2019 following his newsnight interview with the network.

Now, sources have revealed exactly how Andrew has been spending his days living in his crumbling mansion, which appears to have been centered around video games and TV shows.

The prince, according to a source, spends his days playing Call of Duty, a war game, and sitting in his large living room next to a big screen.

Ingrid Seward, the royal biographer, reported to the publication that a friend had reported to her about Andrew and Fergie watching TV on the biggest screen my friend had ever seen while they were visiting them at the Royal Lodge. It appeared to be “taking up the entire wall”

It is also reported that he fills his days watching golf coverage and TV, with an insider describing him as a TV aficionado. Meanwhile, another hobby Andrew is said to have taken up inside his home is plane spotting.

The one-time helicopter pilot, commended for his bravery in the Falklands War, can watch flights land and take off at airports all over the world, according to Royal correspondent Richard Kay’s previous article in the Daily Mail.

The prince has become obsessed with the app, which is a favorite of planespotter nerds, claims a visitor to Royal Lodge. The prince has only recently been spotted driving his car or taking his twice-weekly horse rides, despite the fact that he has reportedly not left his home since the recent scandal broke.

Andrew would frequently travel across Windsor Great Park for a cup of tea with her before her death, as did his late mother, the late Queen.

However, Ingrid continued, “His life is very empty, he’s very lonely, and I believe he’s very bored.” His ex-wife Fergie, who is no longer using her Duchess of York title, is one of the people he can count on for company at Royal Lodge.

Together with her, her five Norfolk terriers, Sandy and Muick, the late Queen’s corgis, and him, he lives in the same house. However, according to reports, Fergie basically has her own private wing of the property, leading a nearly separate life, given the size of the large house.

In old social media posts on Instagram, she previously gave a glimpse inside the house, showing off it’s grand conservatory as well as the vast grounds.

On Wednesday, the Commons passed a law allowing the King to formally remove Andrew from his dukedom.

Continue reading the article.

The prince announced last week he would stop using his Duke of York title to avoid distracting from the work of the royal family, but an Act of Parliament would be required to formally remove the dukedom. York Central MP Rachael Maskell has set out legislation which would grant Charles the power to remove titles.

The monarch would be able to remove titles at his own volition, at the request of a joint committee of Parliament, or at the request of the person who holds the title.

NBA’s Terry Rozier, Chauncey Billups arrested in sports bet probe

According to US media reports on Thursday, Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups and Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier have been detained in connection with investigations into illegal gambling.

According to a source with law enforcement, the 49-year-old Billups’ arrest was connected to an illegal poker game organized by the Mafia, according to ABC News.

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According to the television network, Rozier was detained in a separate, separately related betting case.

At 10:00 am (14:00 GMT), FBI Director Kash Patel is scheduled to release an information regarding the arrests in New York.

Billups, a former NBA Hall of Famer and former star player for the Detroit Pistons, left in 2014.

Since 2021, he has been the Trail Blazers’ head coach.

Billups was on the bench for the team’s loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday in its first game of the season.

Later on Thursday, Billups made his first court appearance in Oregon, according to ABC.

Rozier, 31, was the Boston Celtics’ 2015 draft choice with the 16th overall pick.

In his 11 years playing for the NBA, he has averaged 13.9 points per game while playing for three teams.

Rozier missed the Heat’s opening game of the NBA season on Wednesday because of a hamstring injury.

Jontay Porter of the Toronto Raptors, a player in the NBA, was given a life-long ban last year for his involvement in a betting scandal.

Porter, the Brooklyn Nets’ younger brother, was charged with placing wagers on his performance.

He has admitted guilt to wire-fraud conspiracy and is awaiting sentencing.

According to league regulations, NBA players are prohibited from placing wagers on games. Those found to have cheated on NBA games face fines, suspensions, or life sentences.

Gilbert Arenas, a former NBA All-Star, was detained in July on suspicion of having illegal poker games at his mansion in the Los Angeles suburbs, three months after Billups’ arrest.

According to an indictment released in Los Angeles, Arenas, who played for the Washington Wizards, rented out the posh Encino home “for the purposes of hosting high-stakes illegal poker games” between September 2021 and July 2022.

Arenas is accused of making false statements to federal investigators and one count of conspiracy to run an illegal gambling business.