ATP outlines major tour reforms for 2028 with new Masters 1000 and expanded player funds

Atp Outlines Major Tour Reforms For 2028 With New Masters 1000 And Expanded Player Funds

Key Takeaways

  • ATP chairman Andrea Gaudenzi outlined proposals for 2028 that include heavier ranking points and monetary incentives for Masters 1000 events.
  • The overall bonus fund is set to jump from $21.5 million to $50 million, accompanied by $25 million in year-end financial support for the top 250.
  • The tour intends to add a new Masters 1000 tournament in Saudi Arabia for 2028 while trimming doubles fields to fund singles draws.

Major shake-up targeted for men’s professional tennis by 2028

ATP chairman Andrea Gaudenzi has detailed a series of sweeping proposals intended to reshape the men’s tour ahead of the 2028 season. The broad restructuring focuses on elevating the sport’s highest tier of tournaments, boosting economic safety nets for lower-ranked competitors, and introducing new marquee destinations to the official calendar.

Central to the proposal is an altered emphasis on the ATP Masters 1000 tournaments. Under the planned structure, the events will carry greater significance in determining ranking positions, with deep runs and the final stages yielding a larger share of points. Players will also receive specific ranking-based bonuses for entering Masters 1000 tournaments, providing escalating financial rewards to the tour’s top competitors.

Increased player compensation and an added Masters event

The tour’s bonus fund is slated to experience a significant jump, rising from its current $21.5 million level to $50 million. Alongside gains for elite performers, Gaudenzi outlined stronger protections for a wider pool of athletes. A $25 million economic support pool is targeted for competitors ranked inside the year-end top 250, alongside general capital investments and an expanded retirement pension program.

The calendar itself will expand to incorporate a brand-new Masters 1000 event hosted in Saudi Arabia starting in 2028. To balance schedule demands and resource distribution, the tour plans to trim doubles draw sizes, shifting those financial allocations directly into singles competition.