It's Official: Saudi Arabia Will Host a Tenth Masters 1000

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It was an open secret, and now it has been confirmed. Saudi Arabia will host a tenth Masters 1000 event on the ATP calendar starting in 2028. The sovereign fund PIF had been bidding strongly for something like this for a long time and will have the opportunity to host one of the most important events in the world. The exact location and dates of the event are still unknown.

Mighty money, which has swiftly turned rumors into realities. Surj Sports Investment, a company under PIF, the renowned sovereign fund through which Saudi Arabia has been gaining influence and power in various sports, including tennis, will be organizing a new Masters 1000 event as reported by atptour.com. It will join Indian Wells, Miami, Monte Carlo, Madrid, Rome, Canada, Cincinnati, Shanghai, and Paris, with no indication that any of these events will be removed.

There will be 10 Masters 1000 tournaments on the ATP calendar starting in 2028

Despite constant protests from players about the packed ATP calendar, it was easily predictable that Saudi Arabia's desire to host a major tournament would not go unanswered. The event will take place in collaboration with the Saudi Tennis Federation, aiming to promote and boost tennis in the Arab country.

According to early reports, the event will not be mandatory for the top players, unlike 7 of the current 9 Masters 1000 tournaments. It will have a similar status to Monte Carlo, where players have the freedom to choose whether to participate, even if they are not injured. It is still unknown whether it will last one or two weeks, feature an extended draw of 96 players or 56 players, and the venue.

The location and date of this tenth Masters 1000 in Saudi Arabia are still unknown

The most challenging aspect seems to be fitting it into the ATP calendar, a topic that has not been discussed yet. This marks a historical milestone for the ATP as it is the first time a new Masters 1000 tournament has been created from scratch, expanding the number of events at this level from nine to ten since their inception in 1990. This tournament will also be a stakeholder in ATP Media, the global broadcasting and media division of the circuit, just like the other nine Masters 1000 events.

"It is a moment of pride for us and the result of a process that has been developing for some time. Saudi Arabia has shown a genuine interest and commitment to tennis at all levels. PIF's ambition for sports is evident, and I'm sure all fans and players will be amazed by the outcome," stated Andrea Gaudenzi, ATP director, leaving a significant mark on the organization's history with a daring and controversial decision that ensures a spectacular flow of money. It remains to be seen how the players will react.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Ya es oficial: Arabia Saudí acogerá un décimo Masters 1000