ATP has confirmed a historic change! The men's tennis circuit will include, from the YEAR 2028, a new Masters 1000 category tournament. It will take place in Saudi Arabia and will be the tenth event of this type in the calendar, and the targeted period for the organization is the month of February.
A new Masters category tournament | PHOTO Getty Images
In recent years, the Gulf countries have invested heavily in sports, attracting top competitions in football, boxing, Formula 1 and now tennis. Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have already hosted official and demonstration tournaments, the most recent being the Six Kings Slam in Riyadh, with total prize money of $13.5 million.
Andrea Gaudenzi: “The exact position in the calendar has not yet been established”
ATP announced that Saudi Arabia will organize a new Masters category tournament in the near future, the tenth in the men's circuit. It is the first expansion of the premium circuit after 35 years.
The information was also confirmed by Andrea Gaudenzi, ATP president.
“All we can say at this stage is that it will be early in the season… early in the year.
The exact position on the calendar has yet to be determined. Obviously, February is one of the options… It's a possibility, but it hasn't been decided yet“, said Andrea Gaudenzi, ATP president.
Andrea Gaudenzi has stated that he would prefer the new Masters 1000 tournament in Saudi Arabia to be held in February and that this change could most likely be implemented from 2028 onwards.
Danny Townsend, CEO of SURJ Sports Investment, an affiliate of Saudi Arabia's Private Investment Fund, said there is a possibility that the competition could include both men's and women's events in the future.
“There are benefits when men and women play at the same time. I know there are increases in ticket sales and a number of other commercial elements that we would certainly like to take advantage of. But all this is for the future. We would certainly never say no and would explore this option if it became an option“, explained Danny Townsend, CEO of SURJ Sports Investment.
The 9 Masters tournaments in the ATP circuit
Indian Wells (hard, USA);
Miami Open (hard, USA);
Monte-Carlo Masters (clay, France);
Madrid Open (clay, Spain);
Italian Open (clay, Italy);
Canadian Open (hard, Canada);
Cincinnati Open (hard, USA);
Shanghai Masters (hard, China);
Paris Masters (hard, France).
