The men’s tennis schedule is set to expand slightly more in the coming years after it was revealed that a new Masters event would be added to the calendar.
On Thursday (October 23), the ATP announced that Saudi Arabia would host a Masters 1000 tournament from 2028 onwards.
This will take the number of Masters events on the ATP Tour to 10, joining existing 1000 tournaments in Indian Wells, Miami, Monte-Carlo, Madrid, Rome, Canada, Cincinnati, Shanghai and Paris.
It is currently unclear where the new event will fit in the tennis calendar, but it is most likely to be staged around February, as ATP 500 tournaments nearby in Qatar and Dubai are held that month.
While players may be unhappy with this latest announcement due to the concerns they already have over the schedule’s length, this new Masters event will join Monte-Carlo in not being a mandatory 1000 event to enter.
The addition of Saudi Arabia as a Masters host means the ATP is expanding the number of 1000-level tournaments for the first time since the events were introduced to tennis in 1990.
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Saudi Arabia emerging as a key part of tennis’ future
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Tuesday’s announcement is the latest development in Saudi Arabia becoming a major part of the tennis landscape.
With Riyadh having hosted the WTA Finals since 2024 and Jeddah staging the Next Generation ATP Finals since 2023, Saudi Arabia has been gradually becoming a home for key tennis events.
The addition of a ATP Masters event will now bring more of the world’s best male players to the country for competitive tennis.
Some of the top players on the ATP Tour such as Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic have played in Saudi Arabia, competing in the two editions of the lucrative Six Kings Slam exhibition event.
ATP Chairman, Andrea Gaudenzi, reacted to the news, stating: “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.”
Surj Sports Investment, a company under Saudi Arabia’s PIF (Public Investment Fund), has partnered with the ATP to bring the new event forward.
Chairman of SURJ Sports Investment, Bander Bin Mogren said: “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. “
A location and venue for the new Masters tournament is yet to be announced.
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