The ATP Tour is set to expand with the introduction of a new Masters 1000 event in Saudi Arabia, as announced recently. In collaboration with SURJ Sports Investments, a branch of the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF), the tournament is anticipated to make its debut by 2028. Currently, Saudi Arabia is home to prestigious tennis events such as the year-end WTA Finals and the ATP Next Gen Finals.
This initiative underscores the PIF’s growing involvement in the tennis landscape, where it has secured naming rights for the official world rankings of both the ATP and WTA. Additionally, the fund has established partnerships with major tournaments, including Indian Wells and the Madrid Open, and has also sponsored a newly introduced maternity leave program for WTA players.
However, the decision to host significant tennis events in Saudi Arabia has been met with considerable backlash due to the country’s human rights record. Critics argue that the Kingdom’s investment in sports serves as a means of “sportswashing,” aimed at improving its global image. Prominent figures like Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova have previously expressed their concerns in a published opinion piece, arguing that hosting such events could reflect a retreat from progress in human rights.
ATP chairman Andrea Gaudenzi hailed the forthcoming tournament as a significant milestone for tennis. He stated, “This is the culmination of years of effort. Saudi Arabia has demonstrated a strong commitment to the sport, and we believe the upcoming event will impress both fans and players.”
Specific details regarding the event’s schedule, location, and venue have yet to be disclosed. This will mark the ATP’s tenth Masters tournament, a classification that represents the highest tier of competition outside the Grand Slam events since the category was first introduced in 1990.
Currently, ATP players are obliged to compete in eight out of the nine existing Masters 1000 tournaments to qualify for direct entry, with certain exceptions made for injuries. It is noteworthy that the Monte Carlo Masters, held in April, is the sole event within this category that is not mandatory.
As the ATP nears the launch of this new tournament, many players, including top-ranked stars like Carlos Alcaraz, Taylor Fritz, Iga Swiatek, and Coco Gauff, have raised concerns about the demanding nature of the tour. The addition of another mandatory Masters event to an already grueling schedule may lead to various responses within the player community, particularly in light of the extended formats of some existing tournaments. The future of the tour continues to evolve as stakeholders assess the implications of this significant development.
