The world of tennis is about to witness a historic change in the ATP Masters 1000 series.
A completely new ATP Masters 1000 event will officially launch in 2028, with Saudi Arabia as the host country. This is the first time since 1990 that the Masters 1000 series has expanded to include 10 tournaments.
Saudi Masters – a milestone in the history of global tennis
The event is planned to feature 56 of the world’s top players, held over a week, most likely every February. Saudi Arabia has previously hosted the WTA Finals and Next Gen ATP Finals, while its Public Investment Fund (PIF) is the official naming partner for both ATP and WTA rankings.
ATP Chairman Andrea Gaudenzi mentioned that attendance at the new event will be voluntary, considering many players’ complaints about the dense schedule and the long season. He stressed: "Players are independent contractors and have the right to choose their own schedules. We understand that the off-season break is too short – not only for the players but also for the fans."
This new Masters tournament will join the existing nine Masters 1000 events: Indian Wells, Miami, Monte Carlo, Madrid, Rome, Canada (alternating between Toronto and Montreal), Cincinnati, Shanghai, and Paris. Among these, Monte Carlo is currently the only non-mandatory tournament. Players who skip the Saudi Masters will not lose year-end bonus points and may compensate at other events. Unlike many Masters tournaments that last 12 days—often contentious—the Saudi event will only last 7 days.
The ATP also intends to revise the calendar starting in 2028, shortening the season by about a week to reduce pressure on players. Gaudenzi added: "To control the off-season break, ATP needs to collaborate with the four Grand Slams, ITF, and WTA – something that hasn’t been achieved in the last four years. It’s important that top players learn to say 'no' and focus on Grand Slams, Masters, and ATP Finals – that is how they will be remembered."
The brand-new ATP Masters 1000 tournament will officially begin in 2028, with Saudi Arabia as the venue.
Schedule and venue
After more than 18 months of bidding among Saudi Arabia, Dubai, Doha, Abu Dhabi, and Australia, Saudi Arabia’s selection was considered an “open secret.” In recent years, Saudi Arabia has invested billions of dollars into football, golf, Formula 1, and boxing to elevate its national sports status. Hosting the 2024 WTA Finals—the country’s first major women’s sports event—is regarded as a significant milestone, marking a new direction in its strategy to establish itself as a “global sports hub.”
Regarding timing, regulations initially only permitted the 10th event to be held in the first week of the year or on grass courts before Wimbledon, but after revisions, the tournament can be scheduled at any time, with February being the most likely choice.
However, this timing remains controversial. If held early in the year, Tennis Australia worries that top players might skip the Australian Open warm-up tournaments. If scheduled in February, the event could draw players away from traditional South American tournaments like Rio de Janeiro or Buenos Aires, as well as the Rotterdam event in Europe. One option under consideration is splitting February into two parallel tournament groups—one in the Middle East and one in South America—while European tournaments would be rescheduled.
There is no information yet about the prize money for the Saudi Masters, but ATP regulations require each Masters 1000 event to have a minimum prize fund of €6,128,940 (around £5.3 million). Although Indian Wells increased its prize money by $500,000 this year, most Masters tournaments maintain this minimum.
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