Relevent Sports, the billionaire’s media group selling football to America

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Encouraged by the lucrative potential of making US spectators fall in love with European football, a billionaire father and son-in-law duo are betting they can sell the world’s most popular sport stateside. Relevent Sports Group, a New York-based media company backed by real estate mogul Stephen Ross and led by chief executive Daniel Sillman, is fighting for a piece of an international gold rush involving teams, leagues, sport brands and media companies. The bid comes as the US is due to co-host the World Cup in 2026 alongside Mexico and Canada, a tournament that Fifa, world football’s governing body, expects to bring in revenue of more than $10bn. Ross’s Hard Rock Stadium in Miami is one of the venues. The US is also set to host next year’s Copa América and the revamped Fifa Club World Cup in 2025. “The next five years are enormous,” Sillman told the Financial Times in an interview. “You’ll see a consistent drumbeat of events come to the United States.” Although US investors have typically bought leading clubs such as Chelsea and AC Milan to get into football, Relevent has taken an alternative route, hosting matches and expanding into media rights deals. From its origins in hosting big money exhibition matches for clubs, Relevent has turned its attention to leagues. The company partnered with the Premier League on a nine-match “Summer Series” that drew 265,000 attendees, as well as with Spain’s La Liga for a four-match Summer Tour in the US and Mexico which attracted 100,000 fans.

Alcaraz, who looked fresh despite being on the court for more than 10 hours this week, grabbed a 4-2 second-set lead, and it appeared the Spanish star might cruise to the finish line.

But Alcaraz would produce a terrible service game while leading 4-3 that included four unforced errors to give life to the world No. 2.

In the second-set tiebreak, Djokovic saved a championship point and went on to force a deciding set after winning a 25-shot rally.

During the break before the third set, a frustrated Alcaraz pounded a hand against the plastic drinks container next to his chair, requiring a medical timeout to tape his finger.

In the decider, Djokovic broke on his fifth opportunity of the game for a 4-3 lead.

The drama would continue as Djokovic squandered two match points while returning and leading 5-3.

Alcaraz would save two more match points and break serve when Djokovic missed an overhead for 5-5.

The players ultimately arrived at another tiebreak, which Djokovic won when the 20-year-old's forehand return went wide.

The win was Djokovic's 95th career title and 39th Masters 1000 crown.

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"I have so much to say, but I'm not sure that I have the energy," Djokovic said, cradling his trophy. He paused and looked at Alcaraz.

"You never give up, do you?" he said. "I love that about you. I hope we meet in New York. That would be fun -- well, for the fans, not for me."

The US Open begins Aug. 28. Alcaraz, the defending champion, is guaranteed to remain No. 1 heading into the tournament.

"The match was pretty close," Alcaraz said. "I'll be back."

Sunday's meeting was the fourth one between Djokovic and Alcaraz, with each player having won two matches.

"The feeling that I have on the court reminds me a little bit when I was facing [Rafael] Nadal when we were at our prime," said Djokovic, who moved ahead of the Spaniard on the all-time men's majors list after winning at Roland Garros in June. "Each point is a hustle. Each point is a battle. You've got to basically earn every single point, every single shot, regardless of the conditions."

Djokovic likened Sunday's marathon match to the 2012 Australian Open final, when he defeated Nadal in 5 hours and 53 minutes.

"I don't think I've played too many matches like this in my life," Djokovic told reporters. "You just have to put your hats down to a guy like that. He plays so maturely, handles the pressure so well for a 20-year-old.

"We cannot forget how young he is. That's something that is so impressive about him."

Said Alcaraz: "It's great to hear those things from Novak, [who] has played iconic matches, storied matches. That means the team and myself, we are doing great work, we are on a good path."