The world of tennis is about to witness a seismic shift. In a move that signals the sport’s growing global footprint, the ATP has confirmed that Saudi Arabia will host a prestigious ATP Masters 1000 event starting from 2028.

For years, Saudi Arabia has been quietly expanding its sports portfolio, hosting high-profile events across golf, motorsport, boxing, and even soccer. Tennis, however, has remained on the periphery—until now. The decision to add a tenth Masters 1000 event (joining the existing nine tournaments in Indian Wells, Miami, Monte-Carlo, Madrid, Rome, Toronto/Montreal, Cincinnati, Shanghai, and Paris) is more than just a scheduling update; it represents a strategic push to expand the ATP Tour beyond its traditional strongholds in Europe, North America, and Asia.

This deal builds on the existing strategic partnership between Saudi Arabia’s PIF and ATP, which includes PIF as the official naming partner of the PIF ATP Rankings (also PIF WTA Rankings), partnering on several key ATP Tour events, and the recent launch of a next-generation tech platform, ATP Tennis IQ Powered by PIF. According to this agreement, the new tournament will join ATP and the existing nine Masters 1000 tournaments as a shareholder in ATP Media in the Tour’s global broadcast media arm. It will also focus on accelerating the growth of the game at various levels. The ATP executives have emphasized that the move is part of a broader vision to globalize the sport while giving fans in underrepresented regions access to top-tier tennis.

As per ATP Chairman Andrea Gaudenzi, “This is a proud moment for us and the result of a journey that’s been years in the making. 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 for helping deliver that growth and sharing in this vision.”

With Saudi Arabia’s growing reputation as a hub for luxury sports events, the tournament promises not only high-level competition but also an immersive fan experience that blends tennis with the region’s cultural richness. The Chairman of SURJ Sports Investment, Bander Bin Mogren, said, “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. This announcement underscores Saudi Arabia’s emergence as a major destination for world-class sport and strengthens our ambition to support athletes, fans, and the wider tennis community for years to come. We are proud to be leading this effort with our partners, and we are committed to delivering a tournament that leaves a lasting legacy for the sport.”

According to the CEO of SURJ Sports Investment (a PIF Company), Danny Townsend, the launch of an ATP Masters 1000 event in Saudi Arabia is a defining moment in their journey to enhance the sports landscape. Townsend further added that with the partnership with ATP, they are now committed to creating an extraordinary experience for players and fans while advancing their mission to develop sport at every level. Riyadh has already been hosting the WTA Finals since 2024, and Jeddah has been the home of the Next Gen ATP Finals since 2023. 

Now, with the announcement of this tournament, this is surely going to be complete entertainment for all the tennis lovers in Saudi Arabia. Talking about this event, well, it’ll be a 56-player draw over one week, but the exact timing and venue of the tournament are still uncertain. However, as per various reports, it could probably take place in February. 

February currently has 10 tournaments, and they are as follows:

Although, unlike the majority of the Masters 1000 events, the new Saudi tournament will not be a mandatory event, still, February being the shortest month of them all, this is going to be another challenge for the players.

Is this move from ATP a boon or a bane for tennis?

This long-expected move marks the first-ever expansion of the top-tier category of men’s tennis since its creation in 1990. While the announcement was met with enthusiasm by some, it also raised eyebrows of several in the tennis world. Reasons? Well, there are two!

Firstly, the ATP calendar is already packed, and many worry that adding another Masters 1000 event could lead to player burnout and scheduling conflicts. We’ve already seen players like Carlos Alcaraz and Taylor Fritz complaining about the hectic schedule. The Spaniard said, “I think that the schedule is really tight. They have to do something with the schedule. I think there are too many mandatory tournaments, too many in a row.”

While speaking on frequent injuries, British star Jack Draper stated, “Injuries are going to happen… we are pushing our bodies to do things they aren’t supposed to in elite sport.” Reacting to Draper’s comments, Taylor Fritz also stated, “Facts, also seeing more injuries and burnout now than ever before because balls, courts, conditions have slowed down a lot, making the weekly grind even more physically demanding and tough on the body.”

Furthermore, the involvement of Saudi Arabia, a country with a controversial human rights record, has sparked debates about “sportswashing.” Critics have time and again argued that the Kingdom’s investments in sports are attempts to improve its international image rather than genuine efforts to promote the sports themselves.

Initially, when the news about Saudi Arabia’s introduction to tennis came out, tennis legends like Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova raised their concerns about the same. Evert said, “Would prefer the WTA not go to Saudi Arabia.” While Navratilova added, “I can tell you 100 percent if I were still playing, I would not be going to Saudi Arabia for the Championships.”

Another American legend, John McEnroe, said, “I’m not surprised (to hear the WTA and ATP are in talks). I wouldn’t encourage it, me personally, the Saudi thing. But I’m not surprised that tennis is being thrown into the mix after what we saw in golf.”

However, others, like Billie Jean King, wanted to make some changes in Saudi Arabia through moves like this. So, despite the concerns, the potential benefits of the new tournament can’t be ignored, and we are now quite aware of the lump sum prize money that these tournaments in Saudi Arabia put on offer for all these players. So, this could well attract top-tier talent and elevate the profile of tennis in the Middle East. Moreover, the development of world-class facilities and the emphasis on grassroots tennis could have long-term positive effects on the sport’s growth in the region.

As the tennis world stands at the crossroads of tradition and innovation, the introduction of a new Masters 1000 event in Saudi Arabia presents both opportunities and challenges. In the coming years, as the tournament’s debut approaches, the tennis community will be watching closely to see if this move is a boon or a bane for the sport.

Written by

Sayantan Roy

Sayantan Roy is a seasoned tennis journalist at EssentiallySports. He brings a deep tactical understanding to his coverage, breaking down head-to-head records, match dynamics, and on-court strategies with precision. For more than two years, Sayantan has been a key member of the Live Events desk, delivering real-time insights and data-backed predictions for the platform’s Matchday Preview section. His analytical approach has sparked editorial debates and drawn recognition from respected tennis voices, including commentator and analyst Olly_Tennis. Combining his experience in writing with a passion for insightful sports journalism, Sayantan’s work serves as a trusted reference point for tennis fans around the world.

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