Saudi Arabia has taken another giant leap into the global sports arena, locking in an all-new ATP Masters 1000 event through a landmark deal between the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) and SURJ Sports Investment, a Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF) company. Set to debut as early as 2028 once infrastructure is ready, the announcement comes amid ongoing player concerns over the packed ATP calendar and injury woes. Yet, top seed Jannik Sinner remains optimistic, saying, “I think it’s a positive thing. Let’s see what it can bring to us, the players.” However, the twist no one saw coming, ATP will reportedly cut existing tournaments to make way for the Saudi Masters.

Tennis journalist Ben Rothenberg broke the story on X, writing, “In order to make space for the new ATP 1000 in Saudi Arabia, the ATP is going to delete roughly five tournaments (500s and 250s) from its calendar, in a Saudi-funded ‘buyback’ program. Which do you think should be eliminated? Which would you most want to preserve?” In a follow-up post, he added, “A look at what the consequences will be to the ATP calendar for adding a 10th Masters 1000 event in Saudi Arabia, including a Saudi-funded buyback (aka cancellation and removal) of many 500 and 250 events.”

The new event, featuring a 56-man draw, will be played over one week, most likely in February, highlighting the Gulf state’s increasing pull in the tennis world. Saudi Arabia already hosts the WTA Finals and the Next Gen ATP Finals, and its PIF now serves as the official naming partner for both the ATP and WTA rankings. It’s clear that the kingdom isn’t merely entering the game; it’s shaping the sport’s future.

However, concerns over the already bloated tennis calendar remain front and center. Players have long voiced frustrations about the non-stop nature of the season, and ATP chairman Andrea Gaudenzi has acknowledged that balance is overdue. “We are dealing with players who are independent contractors, so ultimately they are free to choose their own schedule,” Gaudenzi said. “They also play outside of the system and we saw this last week with the Six Kings Slam exhibition [in Saudi Arabia]. I do agree the off season is too short and I don’t think it’s just too short for the players, but I also think it is too short for the fans – who at some point need to take a break from our sport.”

This will be the first expansion of the Masters 1000 category since the concept’s birth in 1990. The Saudi Masters joins a prestigious lineup that includes Indian Wells, Miami, Monte Carlo, Madrid, Rome, Canada, Cincinnati, Shanghai, and Paris. Notably, Monte Carlo remains the only Masters event that isn’t mandatory, a rule the Saudi event will also adopt.

For players worried about burnout, this flexibility is critical. If a player skips the Saudi event, his share of the annual bonus pool will remain intact, and he will still have the chance to earn replacement points at other tournaments. 

The ATP has also suggested that the 2028 season could finish earlier to help alleviate the crushing schedule that has drawn repeated criticism from players and fans alike.

The tension between innovation and exhaustion has long defined tennis’s modern era. Seven of the nine current Masters events now stretch across 12 days, a change that has frustrated many players who feel it extends an already taxing season. The new Saudi event, however, will last just one week, signaling that the ATP may be listening to the growing outcry for reform.

Carlos Alcaraz summed up the mood last season when he warned, “They are going to kill us in some way,” referring to the endless tour grind. British No. 1 Jack Draper echoed that sentiment recently, insisting that “the tour and the calendar has to adapt” if players are to sustain long-term careers. His words come after Holger Rune joined a long list of stars, including Emma Raducanu, Daria Kasatkina, Elina Svitolina, and Paula Badosa, whose seasons were cut short by injury.

And yet, despite the backlash, not all voices are critical. Sinner’s calm, measured optimism represents the other side of the debate, one that sees opportunity in growth rather than chaos. The ATP’s Saudi Masters project may still be years away, but the groundwork has been laid for a tournament that could redefine tennis’s global reach. 

Alexander Zverev fires back at critics of Saudi Masters

When pressed about the ethical and moral debate swirling around the Saudi Masters 1000, Alexander Zverev stood his ground with unflinching composure. “On political matters, the context is not always the best, but they are trying to change,” he explained. “Three years ago, I wasn’t there, but this year it felt like a new country to me. I’m not a politician. If there is a Masters 1000 there, I play it.”

The German star, ranked world number three, drew parallels to long-established events in the Middle East. “They have been played in Dubai or Doha for 30 years, and I don’t think there have been any problems,” he noted. “I can speak for what I know, which is tennis. The ATP should start using that money to give something back to the players.”

Zverev’s message was clear, set politics aside and focus on the sport’s long-term gain. He emphasized that the influx of funding could be transformative if managed wisely. “If they promise us that, with the money from the 10th Masters 1000, they will get back tournaments and weeks and thus shorten the season, it would be great for us, the players,” he said with conviction.

Meanwhile, Andrey Rublev offered a thoughtful, balanced perspective when speaking to Championat. “There are mutual conditions: to host the Masters, Saudi Arabia will allocate a significant sum for the development of tennis,” he said.

Rublev elaborated on the ripple effect of such an investment. “It will be used to fund prize money and players’ end-of-year bonuses, as well as to build new stadiums for some tournaments where the number of courts is insufficient.”

The Russian ace, however, didn’t overlook the downsides. “So, on one hand, yes, there are advantages: there will be development and additional funding. On the other hand, of course, there are disadvantages: there will be an additional tournament. We don’t know when. It’s more complicated, but there are always advantages and disadvantages.”

As the dust settles, the debate rages on. The Saudi Masters may redefine tennis’ future, but at what cost, and which tournaments will vanish to make room for this desert dream?