Saudi Arabia to host new ATP Masters 1000 in 2028
the ATP Tour announced a monumental expansion of its elite calendar: the addition of a 10th ATP Masters 1000 tournament, to be hosted in Saudi Arabia starting as early as 2028
Jannik Sinner, winner of the Six Kings Slam 2025 in Saudi Arabia | © Netflix
Saudi Arabia is set to host a new ATP Masters 1000 tournament starting as early as 2028, marking the first-ever expansion of the men’s tour’s top-tier category since its inception 35 years ago.
The announcement, made on Thursday by the ATP and the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF) subsidiary SURJ Sports Investment, cements the Gulf nation’s accelerating strategy to become a major hub in professional tennis.
The new event will make Saudi Arabia the tenth Masters 1000 host, joining prestigious tournaments in Indian Wells, Miami, Monte-Carlo, Madrid, Rome, Canada, Cincinnati, Shanghai, and Paris.
Strategic Deepening of Saudi Influence
The deal is the most significant step yet in the PIF’s ongoing, high-profile integration into global tennis. The sovereign wealth fund is already the official naming partner of the ATP and WTA rankings and has secured rights to the season-ending Next Gen ATP Finals in Jeddah (since 2023) and the WTA Finals in Riyadh (since 2024).
The Masters 1000 addition follows recent efforts to attract top male players, including the lucrative “Six Kings Slam” exhibition event held in Riyadh, which offers record-breaking prize money and has featured stars like Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz.
ATP Chairman Andrea Gaudenzi praised the move, emphasizing Saudi Arabia’s commitment to the sport. “This is a proud moment for us and the result of a journey that’s been years in the making,” Gaudenzi said. “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.”
Calendar Congestion and Player Response
While hailed as a “landmark deal” by SURJ Sports, which is backed by PIF, the new tournament is expected to intensify the debate over the ATP Tour’s already congested annual schedule. A 10th Masters event means another mandatory stop for top-ranked players, who have previously expressed concerns about the physical demands of the current calendar.
Bander Bin Mogren, Chairman of SURJ Sports Investment, framed the investment as part of a long-term vision. “Bringing an ATP Masters 1000 event to Saudi Arabia is a major step forward for tennis in the region and a reflection of our shared commitment with ATP to the growth of the game around the world,” he stated.
Details regarding the tournament’s specific venue, dates, and whether it will run as a combined men’s and women’s event (like five of the current Masters 1000s) have yet to be finalized. Officials indicated the event could be staged as a one-week, 56-player outdoor hard-court tournament, with a launch targeted for 2028.
