The ATP Tour has officially announced that Saudi Arabia will host a new ATP Masters 1000 tournament beginning in 2028. This marks the first expansion of the elite category in 35 years, bringing the total number of Masters 1000 events to ten. The tournament will be staged over one week with a 56-player draw on outdoor hard courts and will not be mandatory for players.
The event will be owned and operated in Saudi Arabia through SURJ Sports Investment, a company backed by the country’s Public Investment Fund. The host city has not yet been revealed, but organizers confirmed it will take place at the start of the season.
ATP and SURJ Sports Investment celebrate the partnership
ATP Chairman Andrea Gaudenzi praised the move as a milestone for the sport. “Bringing an ATP Masters 1000 event to Saudi Arabia is a major step forward for tennis in the region,” Gaudenzi said. “Saudi Arabia has shown a genuine commitment to tennis — not just at the professional level, but also in growing the game more broadly.”
Danny Townsend, CEO of SURJ Sports Investment, added that the organization is working closely with the ATP to deliver a world-class venue. “We are building a stadium and infrastructure that will match the prestige of the Masters 1000 series,”
Townsend said.Strategic growth and global reach
The inclusion of Saudi Arabia in the Masters 1000 calendar reflects the ATP’s broader strategy to expand its global footprint. The new tournament joins existing events in Indian Wells, Miami, Monte Carlo, Madrid, Rome, Toronto/Montreal, Cincinnati, Shanghai, and Paris.
This development also aligns with Saudi Arabia’s growing investment in international sports, following recent ventures in football, Formula 1, and golf. The ATP’s decision signals a new era for tennis in the Middle East, with the potential to attract top players and new audiences.