For the first time in 35 years, the ATP Masters 1000 series is set to expand, and the new destination is Saudi Arabia. The ATP, in partnership with SURJ Sports Investments—a subsidiary of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF)—announced on Thursday, October 23, 2025, that the kingdom will host a new Masters 1000-level tournament, likely beginning in 2028. This major development marks a significant milestone for both the ATP Tour and Saudi Arabia’s growing influence on the international tennis stage.
The addition of the Saudi Masters event is the first expansion of the Masters 1000 category since its inception in 1990. This prestigious series currently features nine tournaments: Indian Wells, Miami, Monte-Carlo, Madrid, Rome, Canada, Cincinnati, Shanghai, and Paris. With the new event, the ATP will boast ten Masters tournaments—solidifying Saudi Arabia’s place among the most elite stops on the men's tennis circuit.
ATP Chairman Andrea Gaudenzi described the announcement as "a proud moment for us and the result of a journey that's been years in the making." Speaking via video conference, Gaudenzi emphasized the kingdom’s commitment to the sport, saying, "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."
While the event is planned for 2028, the ATP has not yet announced the exact calendar slot, host city, or venue. However, Gaudenzi revealed that February, immediately following the Australian Open, is the leading candidate for the tournament’s debut. "All we can say at this stage is that it's going to be at the beginning of the season—the first part of the season," he explained. The ATP envisions a Middle East swing, with the Saudi Masters potentially running alongside the established tournaments in Doha and Dubai, and a corresponding South American swing during the same period.
The new tournament will feature a 56-player draw and last one week, mirroring the Monte-Carlo Masters in both format and duration. Unlike most Masters events, which are mandatory for top-ranked players, the Saudi Masters is expected to be non-mandatory. Still, with lucrative prize money and benefits anticipated, it’s unlikely that many eligible players would pass up the opportunity to compete.
The announcement comes at a time when the tennis calendar is under intense scrutiny. Many players, including high-profile names like Carlos Alcaraz, Taylor Fritz, Iga Swiatek, and Coco Gauff, have voiced concerns about the grueling length and intensity of the season. The expansion of several Masters events from one week to 12 days has only heightened the debate about player workload and the sport’s relentless schedule. Holger Rune, currently ranked 10th, is the latest to suffer a significant injury, fueling calls to reconsider how much tennis is too much.
Gaudenzi addressed these concerns directly, stating, "It's an extremely complex problem to solve, it's almost you could argue the impossible problem to solve until there is someone who controls the full stack of the calendar. But it's also a hard conversation vis-a-vis players to say, 'we play too much,' when, ultimately, in reality they choose when and where to play. I do agree that the off-season is too short." The ATP is reportedly considering reducing the overall number of tournaments, but the Saudi event’s anticipated prestige and financial incentives are expected to make it a must-attend for the world’s best.
Saudi Arabia’s growing involvement in tennis isn’t new. The kingdom already hosts the year-end WTA Finals in Riyadh and the ATP Next Gen Finals in Jeddah. It has also staged the Six Kings Slam exhibition, further cementing its reputation as a rising powerhouse in the sport. The PIF, Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund, is the official naming partner of the ATP and WTA world rankings and has forged partnerships with major events such as Indian Wells and Madrid. In addition, the PIF sponsors the WTA’s recently launched maternity leave program, signaling a broader investment in the sport’s infrastructure.
With this expansion, the Saudi Masters will also join the other Masters events as a shareholder in ATP Media, the Tour’s global broadcast and media arm. Danny Townsend, CEO of SURJ Sports Investment, did not rule out the possibility that the new event could eventually become a two-week, joint men’s and women’s tournament. "There are benefits from having both men and women playing at the same time. I know there's uplifts in ticket sales, a bunch of other commercial elements that we would certainly want to better benefit from," Townsend said. "But that's all in the future. We'd certainly never say never and explore if it became an option."
However, Saudi Arabia’s deeper involvement in tennis has not come without controversy. The kingdom’s human rights record, particularly regarding LGBTQ+ and women’s rights, has drawn criticism from some of the sport’s most respected voices. Hall of Famers Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova have been outspoken in their opposition, penning a 2024 opinion piece stating that holding events in Saudi Arabia "would represent not progress, but significant regression." Their concerns echo a wider debate about whether Saudi Arabia’s investments represent genuine support for the sport or an attempt at sportswashing—using high-profile sports events to improve its global image.
Despite these criticisms, ATP leadership remains optimistic about the tournament’s potential impact. Gaudenzi said of the plans, "They're really amazing and I think they're going to raise the bar in terms of both player experience and fan experience." The ATP’s decision to award a Masters 1000 event to Saudi Arabia underscores the kingdom’s rising clout in the world of tennis and the shifting landscape of the sport’s global calendar.
As the tennis world awaits further details—such as the exact dates, location, and format of the Saudi Masters—the announcement has already sparked lively debate among players, fans, and commentators. Will the new tournament elevate the sport and expand its reach, or will it add further strain to an already packed schedule? For now, one thing is clear: the ATP’s bold move has set the stage for a new era in men’s tennis, with Saudi Arabia poised to play a central role in its unfolding drama.
With the event’s debut still a few years away and key details yet to be finalized, all eyes will remain fixed on how this historic expansion shapes the future of the ATP Tour—and the sport itself.
