Saudi Arabia is set to increase its involvement in tennis after announcing the launch of a new ATP Masters 1000 event in 2028. The new tournament will become the series’ 10th, along with tournaments in Indian Wells, Miami, Monte-Carlo, Madrid, Rome, Toronto/Montreal, Cincinnati, Shanghai and Paris. It is expected to be played over a week in February.
Saudi Arabia will host a new ATP Masters 1000 tennis tournament from 2028 in the first-ever expansion of the series.
The Gulf nation will become the 10th Masters 1000 host, joining the calendar alongside Indian Wells, Miami, Monte-Carlo, Madrid, Rome, Toronto/Montreal, Cincinnati, Shanghai and Paris.
Masters events are only below the four Grand Slams and year-end championships in terms of their prestige, prize money and ranking points on offer.
A week-long Masters tournament in Saudi Arabia is expected to take place from February 2028, after Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) announced the launch of the new event.
Saudi Arabia already hosts the WTA Finals and the Next Gen ATP Finals, and PIF is the official naming partner of both the ATP and WTA rankings.
It is a further expansion of Saudi Arabia’s growing sporting portfolio, following high-profile investment in football, golf, boxing and Formula 1 over the last few years.
“This is a proud moment for us and the result of a journey that’s been years in the making,” said ATP chairman Andrea Gaudenzi.
“Saudi Arabia has shown a genuine commitment to tennis – not just at the professional level, but also in growing the game more broadly at all levels.
“PIF’s ambition for the sport is clear, and we believe fans and players alike will be amazed by what’s coming.
“Strengthening our premium events is driving record growth and transformation across the Tour, and we’re grateful to our partners at PIF and SURJ (Sports Investment) for helping deliver that growth and sharing in this vision.”
The new Masters event in Saudi Arabia will be played shortly after the Australian Open, which finishes in late January.
Another Masters tournament will mean a busier schedule for the sport’s top players, several of whom have already given their thoughts on the current calendar.
“They are going to kill us in some way,” world No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz said last year.
“Right now a lot of good players are going to miss a lot of tournaments because of (injury).
“Sometimes, you don’t want to go to a tournament. I’m not going to lie, I have felt this way a few times already… but as I’ve said many, many times, I play my best tennis when I smile and enjoy it on court. That’s the best option to keep motivating (myself).”
ATP chairman Guadenzi, asked about the number of tournaments and length of the off-season, said: “We are dealing with players who are independent contractors, so ultimately they are free to choose their own schedule.
“They also play outside of the system and we saw this last week with the Six Kings Slam exhibition [in Saudi Arabia].
“I do agree the off-season is too short and I don’t think it’s just too short for the players, but I also think it is too short for the fans – who at some point need to take a break from our sport.”
Monte Carlo is the only Masters 1000 event which is not mandatory for players.
Missing the new Saudi event will reportedly not impact a player’s bonus pool and there will be opportunities elsewhere to make up for missed ranking points.
“I also have to notice that in today’s world there’s a lot more money, which means there is a lot more opportunity – and there is a lot more temptation of playing more and elsewhere,” Guadenzi added.
“But ultimately the top players in our sport have had the ability to say no and prioritise Slams, Masters and the ATP Finals mainly – that’s how they are going to be remembered.”