Saudi Arabia to Host First Middle Eastern ATP Masters 1000 Tournament
RIYADH – Saudi Arabia’s โSports Investment Company (SURJ) has secured the rights to host a new ATP Mastersโฃ 1000 tournament, marking โขthe โfirstโค time the prestigiousโฃ event will be held โin the Middle East. The tournament, slated to begin as early as 2028, represents the first expansion ofโฃ the โMasters 1000 category in the ATP Tour’s 35-year history.
the decision received โค”unanimous approval” from the ATPโ board, comprised of four playerโ and four tournament representatives, according to โฃATP chairman andrea Gaudenzi. He expressed hope the tournament would be scheduled at the โขstart of the season.
SURJ will manage sponsorship and โticketing for โthe event. While chief executive Dannyโ Townsend declined to disclose the financial details โฃof the agreement, he noted, “the value of these licences has โgone up,โ which is a directโ reflection on the popularity of tennis.”
As with other Masters 1000 event owners,SURJ will also become a shareholder in ATP Media,the tour’sโฃ global โbroadcast rights and production arm. Gaudenzi stated the aim isโ to eventually centralize all rights within Tennis Ventures, theโ proposed mergerโข of commercial entities between the ATP andโ WTA.
This latest investment follows SURJ’sโ recentโ acquisitions, includingโ stakes in the Professional Triathletes Organisation (PTO) and a joint venture with soccer’s kings League. The company also invested US$1 billion in sports media company DAZN, creating DAZN Middle East and Northโ Africa (MENA).
Though, Townsend clarified that SURJ’s investment in DAZN does not guarantee broadcast rights โคfor the new tournament, โคstating, “Our investment in DAZN doesn’t mean that every one ofโฃ our IP lands thereโฆthey’ll have their chance, just like everyone else.”
When questioned about a potential investment in the ATP Tour itself,โ Townsend responded, โ”I โcertainlyโค wouldn’t sayโข it’s on the cards at this moment in time.”