US EditionSaudi Arabia, ATP Putting New Masters Tournament on Schedule
- On Oct 23, 2025, the ATP announced a new Masters 1000 event in Saudi Arabia, planned to debut as early as 2028 with Saudi partners, while Andrea Gaudenzi did not confirm a calendar spot.
- Saudi Arabia's growing tennis role is driven by hosting the ATP Next Gen Finals, Jedda and the WTA Finals, Riyadh, with the Public Investment Fund sponsoring rankings and events.
- At this stage, Gaudenzi prefers a 56-player, one-week tournament in February after the Australian Open, but the exact calendar position and host city remain undecided for the ATP's 10th Masters tournament.
- The change could see the tournament become a two-week joint event, with Townsend citing higher ticket sales and commercial benefits, despite mixed reactions from players.
- Against that backdrop, players renew calls to reconsider the long season while critics of Saudi involvement, including Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova, oppose ties over rights concerns and call it sportswashing.
47 Articles
47 Articles
It will be the first expansion since this category of tournaments was implemented in 1990.The agreement with the Public Investment Fund (PIF) achieved its goal in less than two years.
For the first time in 35 years, the number of Masters tournaments on the men's ATP Tour is expanding. It is now clear that Saudi Arabia will be added to the tennis calendar in 2028.
For the first time since the introduction of the Masters 1000 series, ATP has allowed an increase from nine to ten tournaments and, from 2028 onwards, will award to the growing and financially strong market of Saudi Arabia an event of this highest category of tennis men's player organization. Tournament director and ATP board member Herwig Straka announced it to the APA last week, now it is already a reality.The venue is not yet known for the ti…
It will be played early in the season in a city that remains to be defined.
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Gulf NewsSaudi Arabia to host ATP Masters 1000 tennis event from 2028
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