The Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) officially announced on Thursday its plans to introduce a new Masters 1000-level event in Saudi Arabia.
This tournament, developed in partnership with SURJ Sports Investments, an entity affiliated with Saudi Arabia`s Public Investment Fund (PIF), is scheduled to make its debut on the professional tennis calendar as early as 2028. Saudi Arabia currently serves as the host nation for the year-end WTA Finals and the ATP Next Gen Finals.
The establishment of this new Masters event signifies the PIF`s deepening involvement in the sport of tennis. The fund already holds the distinction of being the official naming partner for both the ATP and WTA world rankings and maintains strategic collaborations with various high-profile tournaments, including Indian Wells and Madrid. Additionally, the PIF sponsors the WTA`s recently launched program providing maternity leave benefits.
However, the Middle Eastern nation has garnered considerable criticism concerning its human rights record. Detractors frequently accuse Saudi Arabia of engaging in “sportswashing,” a practice where a country uses substantial financial investments in global sports initiatives to enhance its international image and deflect attention from domestic issues. Before the WTA finalized its decision to hold its year-end finals in Saudi Arabia, tennis icons Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova strongly opposed the move. In a 2024 opinion piece for The Washington Post, they contended that such a decision “would represent not progress, but significant regression.”
Andrea Gaudenzi, chairman of the ATP, expressed his enthusiasm in a Thursday statement, calling the new tournament a “proud moment” for his organization.
“[This is] the result of a journey that`s been years in the making,” Gaudenzi stated. “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.”
Specific details regarding the timing, host city, and venue for the Saudi Arabian event have yet to be disclosed. This upcoming tournament will become the 10th ATP Masters event – representing the highest tier of professional tennis competitions outside of the Grand Slams – and notably, the first new addition to this category since its inception in 1990.
Under current regulations, ATP players whose ranking qualifies them for direct entry are typically mandated to compete in eight of the nine existing Masters 1000-level tournaments, with provisions for injury exceptions. The Monte Carlo event, traditionally played in April, stands as the sole non-mandatory Masters tournament.
Numerous top players, including Carlos Alcaraz, Taylor Fritz, Iga Swiatek, and Coco Gauff, have openly voiced concerns regarding the extensive duration and demanding schedule of the global tennis season. They have also highlighted issues with the expanded format (from one week to 12 days) of several 1000-level events. Consequently, the introduction of another compulsory tournament on the men`s tour is anticipated to be met with a mixed reception from the player community.
