The tenth ATP1000 Masters tournament will be newly hosted in Saudi Arabia.

ATP and SURJ Sports Investment Company under PIF announced today the introduction of a brand-new ATP1000 Masters tournament based in Saudi Arabia. This represents the first enlargement of the series, with Saudi Arabia becoming the tenth ATP1000 Masters host following the nine established locations: Indian Wells, Miami, Monte Carlo, Madrid, Rome, Toronto/Montreal, Cincinnati, Shanghai, and Paris. The event is expected to debut as early as 2028.

The exact date, host city, and venue for the Masters tournament in Saudi Arabia have yet to be announced. The Masters events are the highest tier in tennis after the Grand Slams. According to current rules, ATP players who meet the direct entry ranking criteria must participate in eight of the nine mandatory Masters tournaments (except Monte Carlo) if they are fit. The Monte Carlo Masters, held every April, is the only non-mandatory Masters event. Recently, several players have expressed concerns about the packed tennis calendar, and many male players have voiced worries and dissatisfaction over the Masters tournaments being extended from one week to 12 days.

According to foreign media reports, the Masters tournament in Saudi Arabia will feature a 56-player draw and will be a non-mandatory event lasting one week. The date is likely to be set in February, shortly after the Australian Open.

Since 2024, Riyadh has hosted the WTA Finals, and since 2023, Jeddah has become the venue for the new-generation ATP Finals. This Masters tournament will become another major tennis event in Saudi Arabia.

(Translation by Wang Fei, images courtesy of Visual China)