Saudi Arabia Secures ATP Masters 1000 Tournament for 2028

Saudi Arabia will host an ATP Masters 1000 tournament as early as February 2028, marking a significant milestone in the nation’s efforts to establish itself as a key player in the global tennis landscape. This announcement follows nearly three years of negotiations and strategic positioning by the kingdom’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) and SURJ, its sports division. The tournament will feature a 56-player draw over one week, although the specific venue and timing remain to be finalized.

The decision to host a Masters 1000 event represents a shift in Saudi Arabia’s ambitions. Initially, the kingdom sought to launch a mixed-gender tournament to open the tennis season in January 2024. SURJ chief executive Daniel Townsend stated, “Our ambition is to own an event in the kingdom, both genders, having it play a meaningful role in the tennis calendar.” While the mixed event has not materialized, the plan for a men’s tournament reflects the country’s commitment to growing its presence in the sport.

The ATP Tour chairman, Andrea Gaudenzi, acknowledged the potential impact of the new tournament, which will align its base prize money with other ATP Masters 1000 events. Gaudenzi expressed a desire for two distinct tournament schedules, one in the Middle East and another in South America. Currently, February hosts ten ATP tournaments across four continents, complicating the integration of a new event into the calendar.

Despite initial aspirations for a more expansive tournament, Saudi Arabia’s current plan is more restrained. The initial vision included a 96-player draw and a combined event before the Australian Open. As negotiations progressed, the focus shifted to a standalone men’s tournament. The adjustments reflect ongoing challenges within the professional tennis landscape, where player feedback has increasingly called for fewer events and higher revenue shares.

In recent years, Saudi Arabia has invested heavily in tennis, with a commitment of approximately $1 billion aimed at enhancing the sport’s profile. The WTA Tour Finals will take place in Riyadh until at least 2027, and the ATP Tour’s Next Gen showcase for emerging talent is set for Jeddah. Additionally, the kingdom hosted the Six Kings Slam, the richest exhibition event in tennis, where participants earned significant payouts, including $6 million awarded to last year’s champion, Jannik Sinner.

This strategic push into tennis is part of a broader vision led by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to diversify the Saudi economy, traditionally reliant on oil. Critics have raised concerns regarding the country’s human rights record, framing its sporting investments as an attempt to improve its international image—a practice often referred to as sportswashing.

The dynamics of the tennis calendar are intricate, with existing events in Qatar and the United Arab Emirates already occupying significant spots in February. The ATP Tour aims to ensure that the Saudi tournament complements the established events rather than compete against them. According to an ATP spokesperson, the placement of the Saudi Masters 1000 within the calendar is still under discussion, with careful consideration needed to balance the global schedule.

As the tennis community adjusts to this new addition, the implications of the Saudi Masters 1000 will unfold over time. Players are advocating for a more manageable tournament structure, and with the ATP and WTA seeking greater control over their respective tours, the landscape is poised for further evolution.

Ultimately, the arrival of an ATP Masters 1000 tournament in Saudi Arabia underscores not only the kingdom’s dedication to sports but also the ongoing transformation of tennis as it navigates a complex global framework. The culmination of these efforts may shape the future of the sport, revealing the balance between ambition and practicality in an increasingly crowded calendar.