Saudi Arabia to host first-ever New ATP Masters event in 35 years
The Tennis world is abuzz with news that an ATP Masters tournament is coming to Saudi Arabia from 2028. In the 35 years since the men’s tennis tour’s premium series was founded, this is the first time we have seen an expansion of the series. While there is no exact time when the Masters event … Continued
Jannik Sinner in Saudi Arabia | © Riyadh Season
The Tennis world is abuzz with news that an ATP Masters tournament is coming to Saudi Arabia from 2028. In the 35 years since the men’s tennis tour’s premium series was founded, this is the first time we have seen an expansion of the series.
While there is no exact time when the Masters event will debut, nor is the spot on the calendar etched in stone, it is unmistakable that the Gulf nation will join the ranks of Paris, Shanghai, Monte-Carlo, Madrid, Indian Wells, Miami, Rome, Cincinnati, and Toronto/Montreal in becoming the 10th host of the Masters 1000 series. The event is most likely to be held in February, not immediately after the Australian Open, which usually ends in late January.
But what exactly does this mean for the sport? With Saudi Arabia’s growing presence in the sporting world, are tennis fans excited to see more of their tennis superstars, or do they echo the concerns of their favorite players who are already complaining about the strain the already long tennis calendar has on their bodies?
Fans Welcome the Expansion, Players Less So
For fans, news of a new Masters tournament will undoubtedly be met with positivity. Especially for fans in Saudi Arabia and environs. It means they no longer need to travel around the world to catch a glimpse of players like Alcaraz and Sinner in their prime. It also means that fans in France, Australia, or the USA who have wanted to visit the Gulf Nation now have a reason to plan a vacation to the region or show their continued love for the sport by exploring online betting in Texas, Melbourne, or Paris options as they enjoy top betting odds, bonuses and freebies while keeping up to date with the new and exciting matchups that will go down under the Abu Dhabi sun.
It, however, might be a different case for the players, who, while they have been playing their best and entertaining the tennis world, have been clamoring for a change to the overly demanding calendar. Vocal as usual, the 22-year-old Spanish World Number one on the ATP rankings said in 2025 that a lot of good players would most likely miss a lot of tournaments because of injury. In line with what other tennis players have said, he went on to say that sometimes, players don’t want to go to a tournament, and he has felt this way a few times already. He adds that he plays his best tennis when he enjoys the game on court, and considers it a strong motivator.
On October 18, 2025, in a tweet on X (formerly Twitter), Jack Draper, a 23-year-old British tennis player recently ruled out for the 2025 season due to injury, posted a simple message explaining that injuries happen and pushing their bodies to do things they aren’t meant to in elite sport.
ATP’s Balancing Act
The ATP Chairman, in the person of Andrea Gaudenzi, commiserated with the players, being a former tennis player himself, was able to put himself in their shoes. In his words, he said: “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.”
However, he went on to say that there was a chance, as with Monte Carlo, that the new Masters 1000 event in Saudi Arabia could be optional for players to participate in. He noted that they 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].
It is believed that missing this new Saudi event will not affect the player’s bonus pool and that, given more opportunities in the season-long calendar to make up for missed tennis ranking points, it will have very little effect on the outcome of the entire tennis season.
Gaudenzi went on to say that, “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 to play more and elsewhere.” “But ultimately the top players in our sport have had the ability to say no and prioritize Slams, Masters and the ATP Finals mainly – that’s how they are going to be remembered.”
What it means for the sport
Understanding that the Masters events are the most prestigious tennis showings in terms of ranking points and prize money, only second to the four grand slams, the Australian Open, the French Open (Roland Garros), Wimbledon, and the US Open, puts this news into perspective. It is speculated to be a fifty-six-player, one-week-long tourney to commence in February, after the Australian Open has concluded.
The ATP chairman, Andrea Gaudenzi, was really excited about the development, noting the extensive work behind the scenes that made this collaboration a success. He said it was a proud moment for us, and the result has been years in the making. He went on to talk about how 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.”
Sporting Investments Beyond the Court
This is not Saudi Arabia’s first foray into the world of sports; it is not even their first foray into tennis, as there have been notable steps taken to bring the sport to the kingdom, with the WTA finals held in Riyadh for the best women’s tennis players and the ATP Next Gen Finals for the best budding players.
Outside of tennis, there have been sizable investments in Motorsports, marked by the commencement of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix in Jeddah in 2021, where Lewis Hamilton won on the Grand Prix debut, and the prestigious Dakar Rally, which has been held since 2020.
More recently, the impact in the world of football (soccer) has been unmatched, having signed world beaters like Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema to the Saudi Pro League and taking an ownership stake in English Premier League Club Newcastle through the Public Investment Fund (PIF). Speaking of the PIF fund, it stirred the golf world with the LIV versus PGA Tour controversy, which saw many stakeholders take different sides.
It has not been without criticism, with tennis Hall of Fame members Martina Navratilova and Chris Evert voicing their opinions against tennis saddling itself with Saudi Arabia due to concerns about women’s rights in the region.
With so many parties pitching in for and against, one thing is certain: Saudi Arabia has gotten the world talking about the world of tennis, and it would only be a matter of time before we know for certain how this massive news would be received and what impact it would have on the future of world tennis.
