{"id":92723,"date":"2025-10-23T10:45:07","date_gmt":"2025-10-23T14:45:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/tennis\/?p=92723"},"modified":"2025-10-23T10:45:07","modified_gmt":"2025-10-23T14:45:07","slug":"saudi-arabia-new-masters-1000-tournament","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/tennis\/2025\/10\/23\/saudi-arabia-new-masters-1000-tournament\/","title":{"rendered":"Breaking: Saudi Arabia to Host New Masters 1000 Tournament"},"content":{"rendered":"

Tennis is\u00a0on the verge of a historic expansion, as the\u00a0ATP has confirmed that Saudi Arabia<\/a> will host its first-ever Masters 1000 tournament\u00a0starting in 2028, marking the first addition to the elite category in over three decades.<\/p>\n

The event, backed by SURJ Sports Investments, a company under the Public Investment Fund (PIF<\/a>), will feature a 56-player draw, played over one week on hard courts, and will be non-mandatory, similar to Monte Carlo. Scheduled for February, it will slot into the early-season swing that already includes Doha and Dubai, adding a big tournament to the calendar\u2019s Middle Eastern leg.<\/p>\n

A New Era Begins for Tennis<\/h3>\n

The ATP called the move a proud moment years in the making, with Chairman Andrea Gaudenzi praising Saudi Arabia\u2019s genuine commitment to tennis at every level.
\n\u201cThis marks a new era for our sport,\u201d said Gaudenzi. \u201cSaudi Arabia has shown long-term vision and ambition to grow tennis globally.\u201d
\nSURJ Sports CEO Danny Townsend added that the event aligns with Vision 2030, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman\u2019s plan to diversify the Kingdom\u2019s economy through sport.
\n\u201cWe\u2019re not replacing anything,\u201d Townsend said. \u201cThis is about growing the game, building world-class infrastructure, and creating opportunities for future generations.\u201d<\/p>\n

The exact city will be confirmed in the coming months, though Riyadh remains the frontrunner, with plans underway for a new world-class venue. The ATP also confirmed that proceeds from the partnership would fund calendar optimization and boost the Masters bonus pool to encourage top-player participation.<\/p>\n

Tennis in Saudi Arabia<\/h3>\n

While the Middle East has long had a presence on the tennis map with Qatar and the UAE hosting major events for decades, Saudi Arabia\u2019s tennis push is far more recent and ambitious.<\/p>\n

Riyadh hosted the WTA Finals in 2024, in a three-year deal running through 2026, at the King Saud University Indoor Arena. Meanwhile, Jeddah became home to the Next Gen ATP Finals from 2023, staged at King Abdullah Sports City. Both events had record prize money for their respective events.<\/p>\n

The Kingdom also appointed Rafael Nadal as an official ambassador<\/a> in 2024 in a 10-year deal reportedly worth $500 million, a move aimed at promoting grassroots growth and global exposure. In parallel, the Six Kings Slam<\/a>, a Riyadh Season-backed exhibition boasting a $6 million winner\u2019s prize, has quickly become the most lucrative non-tour event in tennis, headlined by stars like Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner in back-to-back editions.<\/p>\n

Embed from Getty Images<\/a>