The ATP has confirmed plans to introduce a new Masters 1000 event in Saudi Arabia, set to debut as early as 2028.
The tournament will be played on hard courts over one week at the start of the season, though the host city has yet to be announced, ATP chairman Andrea Gaudenzi said during a press conference in Paris on Thursday.
The move marks the first expansion of the prestigious Masters 1000 series since its creation in 1990, joining the existing nine tournaments in Indian Wells, Miami, Monte Carlo, Madrid, Rome, Toronto/Montreal, Cincinnati, Shanghai, and Paris.
“This is a proud moment for us and the result of a journey that’s been years in the making,” Gaudenzi said, describing the addition as a significant milestone for the ATP Tour.
While the new Saudi event will not be mandatory for players, its inclusion comes amid ongoing discussions about the demanding nature of the tennis calendar, which runs nearly year-round.
The ATP said the tournament is being launched in partnership with SURJ Sports Investments, a company linked to Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF). Financial details of the agreement were not disclosed.
Saudi Arabia has rapidly expanded its footprint in world tennis, hosting the WTA Finals in Riyadh since 2024 and the Next Gen ATP Finals since 2023.
The PIF has also entered partnerships with several existing Masters 1000 events, including Indian Wells, Miami, and Madrid, and now lends its name to the ATP rankings.
