Saudi Arabia to Host First Newโ ATP Masters 1000 Tournament inโข 35 Years
RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA – October 24, 2024 – The ATP Tour and SURJ Sports investment today announced a groundbreaking partnership to launch a new ATP Masters 1000โ tournament in Saudi Arabia, marking the first expansion of the prestigious Masters 1000 category in the ATP Tour’s 35-year history. The event will elevate Saudi Arabia to theโ tenth โhost nation for โคthese top-tier tournaments, joining Indian Wells, Miami, Monte-Carlo, Madrid, Rome, Toronto/Montreal, Cincinnati, Shanghai and โคParis.
The agreement signifies a deepening relationship between the ATP and Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), building on PIF’s โคexisting role as the official naming partner of the ATP and WTA rankings and its collaboration on the ATP tennis IQ data and technology platform. As part of the deal, the new tournament will also become a shareholder โin ATP media, the Tour’s global broadcastโฃ and media arm.
Saudi Arabia’s commitment to professional โขtennis has been โsteadily growing, already โคhosting the Nextโค Gen ATP Finals in Jeddah since 2023 and the WTA Finals in Riyadh since โฃ2024.
“Bringing an ATP Masters 1000 event โto Saudiโ Arabia is a โคmajorโข step forward for tennis โin theโค region and a reflection โขof โคour shared commitment with ATP to the growth of the game around the world,” said Bander โBin Mogren, Chairman of SURJ Sports Investment. “This announcementโฃ underscores Saudi Arabia’s emergence as a majorโฃ destination for world-class sport and strengthens our ambition to support athletes, fans, and the wider tennis community for years to come. We are proudโ to be leading this effort withโ our partners, and we are committed to delivering a tournament โthat leavesโ a lasting โคlegacy for theโข sport.”
Danny Townsend, CEO of SURJ Sports Investment, added, “The launch of an ATP Masters 1000 in Saudi Arabia is a defining moment in our journey to enhance the sports landscape. this tournament is more than an event; it is a โคstatement of ambition, showcasing Saudi Arabia’s role as a global sports hub. In partnership with ATP, we are committed toโค creating โคan remarkable experience for players and fans, while advancing our mission to develop sport at every level.”