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PIF Establishes SRJ Sports Investments Company to Elevate Sports Sector in Saudi Arabia, MENA

The Public Investment Fund announced the establishment of SRJ Sports Investments. (SPA)
The Public Investment Fund announced the establishment of SRJ Sports Investments. (SPA)
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PIF Establishes SRJ Sports Investments Company to Elevate Sports Sector in Saudi Arabia, MENA

The Public Investment Fund announced the establishment of SRJ Sports Investments. (SPA)
The Public Investment Fund announced the establishment of SRJ Sports Investments. (SPA)

Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) announced on Sunday the establishment of SRJ Sports Investments, a sports investment company that aims to accelerate the growth of the sports sector in Saudi Arabia and the Middle East and North Africa region.

SRJ Sports Investments will invest in acquiring and creating new sports events IP, commercial rights of popular and prominent sports competitions and hosting major global events in Saudi Arabia. These investments are expected to deliver financial returns and localize partnerships domestically and in the MENA region.

The new company will target businesses specialized in offering unique fan engagement activities and transformative sports technology across the industry, bolstering Saudi Arabia’s position as one of the world’s leading sports and entertainment destinations.

Head of MENA Direct Investments at PIF Raid Ismail said: “We are thrilled to announce the establishment of SRJ Sports Investments Company to accelerate the growth of the sports sector in Saudi Arabia and the MENA region, by creating and investing in international sports IP, enhancing the fan experience through hosting major global events and investing in transformative technologies.”

“The company will complement other PIF investments in the sports sector, all of which are contributing to a more vibrant society, in line with PIF’s strategy and Saudi Vision 2030,” he added.

As a long-term investor, the entertainment, leisure, and sports sector is one of PIF’s 13 priority sectors for investment.

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Injured Djokovic Stops in Australian Open Semifinals against Zverev

Tennis - Australian Open - Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia - January 24, 2025 Serbia's Novak Djokovic waves to the crowd as he leaves the court after retiring from his semi final match against Germany's Alexander Zverev REUTERS/Edgar Su
Tennis - Australian Open - Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia - January 24, 2025 Serbia's Novak Djokovic waves to the crowd as he leaves the court after retiring from his semi final match against Germany's Alexander Zverev REUTERS/Edgar Su
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Injured Djokovic Stops in Australian Open Semifinals against Zverev

Tennis - Australian Open - Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia - January 24, 2025 Serbia's Novak Djokovic waves to the crowd as he leaves the court after retiring from his semi final match against Germany's Alexander Zverev REUTERS/Edgar Su
Tennis - Australian Open - Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia - January 24, 2025 Serbia's Novak Djokovic waves to the crowd as he leaves the court after retiring from his semi final match against Germany's Alexander Zverev REUTERS/Edgar Su

An injured Novak Djokovic quit because of a torn muscle in his left leg after dropping the first set of his Australian Open semifinal against Alexander Zverev on Friday.
Djokovic lost the opener 7-6 (5) in a tiebreaker and immediately walked around the net to concede the match to Zverev. Fans booed as Djokovic walked off toward the locker room, and he responded by giving two thumbs-up, The Associated Press reported.
“It was getting worse and worse,” Djokovic said later at his news conference, referring to the pain in his leg, which he hurt during his quarterfinal victory over Carlos Alcaraz on Tuesday night. “I knew, even if I won the first set, it was going to be a huge uphill battle for me.”
Djokovic was bidding for an 11th championship at the Australian Open and record 25th Grand Slam title overall. He withdrew from last year's French Open before the quarterfinals after tearing the meniscus in his right knee.
The only set of Djokovic vs. Zverev lasted 1 hour, 20 minutes and included 19 points that lasted nine strokes or more apiece. The first four games alone lasted 31 minutes.
It was grueling — and would have been even without dealing with a problem with one’s body. But Djokovic showed up with his left thigh taped up, a reminder that he finished the contest against Alcaraz that way after hurting himself late in the first set.
“I didn't hit the ball since Alcaraz match until like an hour before today’s match,” Djokovic said Friday. “I did everything I possibly can to basically manage the muscle tear that I had. Medications and I guess the (tape) and the physio work helped to some extent today. But towards the end of that first set, I just started feeling more and more pain and it was too much for me to handle. Unfortunate ending, but I tried.”
The 37-year-old Djokovic was asked whether this might have been his last appearance at Melbourne Park.
“There is a chance. Who knows?” Djokovic said. “I’ll just have to see how the season goes. I want to keep going.”
The No. 2-seeded Zverev reached his first title match at Melbourne Park.