Men's professional tennis will witness its first major structural change in nearly four decades when Saudi Arabia joins the ATP Masters 1000 series from 2028.
The Association of Tennis Professionals revealed on Thursday that the kingdom has secured the tenth Masters tournament through an agreement with SURJ Sports Investments, an entity connected to Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund.
This marks the inaugural expansion of tennis's premier tournament category since the series launched in 1990.
The existing nine Masters competitions span the globe from Indian Wells to Paris.
Saudi Arabia already hosts the Six Kings Slam
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ATP chairman Andrea Gaudenzi described the milestone as "a proud moment for us and the result of a journey that's been years in the making" during a Paris press conference.
The new tournament will feature a 56-player field competing on hard courts during a one-week period at the beginning of the tennis season. The host city remains undecided.
Significantly, participation won't be compulsory for players, distinguishing it from most other Masters tournaments.
Gaudenzi emphasised this flexibility, stating: "Our open system has a lot of pros because it provides a lot of freedom, options and choices for the players."
The tournament's positioning early in the calendar year would likely place it alongside existing February events in Doha and Dubai.
Saudi Arabia are taking a keener interest in tennis
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This scheduling arrives amid growing player concerns about the sport's gruelling eleven-month calendar.
SURJ chairman Bander Bin Mogren called the announcement "a major step forward for tennis in the region" and highlighted Saudi Arabia's aspirations to become "a major destination for world-class sport."
The kingdom's tennis ambitions extend well beyond this latest acquisition.
Saudi Arabia has hosted the WTA Finals in Riyadh since 2024 and welcomed the Next Gen ATP Finals to Jeddah in 2023, featuring the world's top eight players aged twenty and under.
The Public Investment Fund has systematically expanded its tennis portfolio through strategic partnerships with established Masters 1000 tournaments including Indian Wells, Miami and Madrid.
The sovereign wealth fund has also secured naming rights to the ATP rankings.
The financial terms of the arrangement between SURJ and the ATP remain confidential.
Saudi Arabia's grip on tennis strengthens further
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The expansion comes as players increasingly voice frustration about the tour's demanding schedule, which stretches from January through November.
Gaudenzi acknowledged these tensions, noting: "But the downside is that they obviously can't play Slams, Masters, (ATP) 500s, 250s freely. On top of the fact that they also play team events and exhibitions like the Six Kings Slam."
The Six Kings Slam, held in Saudi Arabia last week, attracted elite players including world number one Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic.
Gaudenzi emphasised that the partnership reflects Saudi Arabia's "genuine commitment to tennis - not just at the professional level, but also in growing the game more broadly at all levels."