New Masters 1000 Tournament in Saudi Arabia: A Milestone in Men’s Tennis
The ATP announced this Thursday the creation of a new Masters 1000 category tournament in Saudi Arabia, marking a milestone in the professional tennis circuit. In collaboration with SURJ Sports Investments, part of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, the tournament is scheduled to debut on the tennis calendar as early as 2028. It is worth noting that Saudi Arabia already hosts the year-end WTA Finals and the Next Gen ATP Finals. This new Masters tournament represents PIF’s latest foray into tennis. The fund is the official world ranking partner of both the ATP and WTA, and has partnerships with various prominent events, such as Indian Wells and Madrid. In addition, PIF sponsors the recently launched maternity leave program by the WTA. The Middle Eastern country has been the subject of widespread criticism for human rights violations. Critics argue that Saudi Arabia has engaged in sports washing and has used the country’s wealth to invest in global sports initiatives in order to improve its reputation on the world stage.The ATP President, Andrea Gaudenzi, in a statement, called the new tournament a “moment of pride” for his organization. Gaudenzi added that Saudi Arabia has shown a genuine commitment to tennis, not only at a professional level, but also in the growth of the sport at all levels. PIF’s ambition for the sport is clear, and we believe that both fans and players will be surprised by what is to come. The specific timing of the event in Saudi Arabia, as well as the host city and venue, have not yet been announced. It will be the tenth ATP Masters tournament, the highest level of tennis events outside of the majors, and the first to be launched since the category was introduced in 1990. ATP players with a ranking that allows them direct entry are currently obliged to participate in eight of the nine Masters 1000 level tournaments, with exceptions for injury. Monte Carlo, which is played in April, is the only Masters event that is not mandatory. Many players, such as Carlos Alcaraz, Taylor Fritz, Iga Swiatek, and Coco Gauff, have expressed their concern about the duration and intensity of the worldwide travel season, in addition to the expanded format (from one week to 12 days) of several 1000-level events. The addition of another mandatory tournament on the men’s circuit could be met with mixed reactions.This is the result of a journey that has taken years to prepare.
Andrea Gaudenzi, ATP Chairman
