Who is buying up tennis? 0 6

Last week, the ATP officially announced that a new Masters series tournament will be held in Saudi Arabia.

For the country, this is another step towards expanding its influence in both tennis and global sports as a whole. Although athletes complain about the overloaded calendar, they are still willing to travel to play even in the scorching heat for huge prize money.

Unprecedented Decision

The Masters series was established in 1990 along with the ATP, and since then, the number of tournaments has never changed. Yes, the venues for ATP-1000 category events have been moved several times.

The last adjustment occurred in 2008 when the Hamburg license was transferred to Shanghai. However, there have always been nine tournaments in the 'thousand' category, which is just one step below the most prestigious four Grand Slam events.

It seemed that the current system would remain unchanged for a long time. However, when rumors emerged last year that the Saudis wanted to acquire a tenth Masters, everyone took this information seriously. The Australian Tennis Federation reacted negatively to the insider news, as the new men's 'thousand' could be scheduled for the beginning of the year.

"Tennis Australia has a current agreement with the ATP and WTA to hold the United Cup in the first calendar week, which is valid until 2029 with the possibility of extension. The Australian Open cannot be moved. Therefore, a tournament in another region with an eight-hour time difference, a 15-hour flight distance, and different climatic conditions will obviously be detrimental to players preparing for the Grand Slam," the statement said.

At that time, the ATP assured that there would be no new Masters in the next three years, but beyond that, anything is possible. "If it does happen, it will not be before 2028, as time is needed to develop infrastructure. This will not affect the other Masters, as they have a 30-year guarantee of their category," explained association head Andrea Gaudenzi. "We are open to the Saudis' wishes and listen to them because they want to invest in tennis and help us. We want to build bridges, not barriers. When I first played in Dubai and Doha in the 1990s, everything was different, but they have made significant progress. Saudi Arabia is also striving for change."

Gaudenzi was not mistaken. For three years, there will be no changes in the series, and the first Masters in Saudi Arabia will take place in 2028.

Players Are Happy

The amount paid by the Saudis for the new license has not been disclosed. It is also unknown in which city and at what time the tenth Masters will be held. It is reported that it will appear in the calendar at the beginning of the year. Most likely, space will be freed up in February. Currently, two major ATP-500 category tournaments are held in the Middle East during this month — in Dubai and Doha. But clearly, some cities will have to suffer from the new 'thousand'.

Players, who increasingly complain about fatigue, hope that for the sake of the new super tournament, the ATP will lighten the calendar, and they perceive the opportunity to compete in Saudi Arabia positively.

"If they promise that the money from the tenth Masters will be used to buy out licenses for tournaments and thus shorten the season, it will be great for the players. If the season becomes three to four weeks shorter and we don’t have to play until the end of November or even early December, then the idea is wonderful," commented Alexander Zverev on the deal. "I like it in Saudi Arabia; I had a great time there. This country does a lot for sports."

The Saudis, together with the ATP, are currently taking cautious steps. The new Masters, unlike others, will not be mandatory for participation, so players will not face sanctions for skipping it. The draw will feature 56 players instead of the usual 96, as seen in the Masters in Monte Carlo and Paris.

Generous Saudis

The joy of tennis players about another Masters is not only related to the potential lightening of the calendar but also to the new opportunity to earn well. The Saudis do not skimp on prize money.

Since last year, the "Six Kings' Slam" exhibition tournament has been held in Riyadh. It takes place closer to the end of the season, in October, when players have accumulated fatigue. Nevertheless, top tennis players consistently try to attend it. And there are no ranking points awarded at the "Six Kings' Slam." The reason, of course, is the money.

This autumn, just like last year, the winner of the tournament in Saudi Arabia, Jannik Sinner, earned 6 million dollars for three matches. Alexander Zverev, who played just one hour-long match, received a check for one and a half million dollars (25,424 dollars for each minute on the court).

In addition to the "Six Kings' Slam," Saudi Arabia is hosting the women's WTA Finals starting this season. The agreement is for three years. The winner of the WTA Finals-2025, Elena Rybakina, deposited 5 million 235 thousand dollars into her account by the end of the year — a record prize for the women's tour. The contract with the WTA for holding the women's Finals is also for three years.

And this is not all the big tennis purchases by the Saudis. If you look at the men's and women's rankings on the associations' websites, you will see three capital letters in the header: PIF ATP/WTA Rankings. PIF stands for the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia. The company has become the first-ever title sponsor of tennis rankings.

Now, Saudi Arabia can already be considered a representative of the top 5 leading countries in terms of influence on world tennis. The only country ahead in terms of the number of major tournaments is the USA, and even with some stretch — France with its Masters in Paris and the major Roland Garros. Of course, Australia and the UK still have Grand Slam tournaments, but they cannot offer much more. Plus, there is the powerful China with its 'thousands.'

At this rate, Saudi Arabia could pull far ahead of many current leaders and, in five years, buy itself a fifth Grand Slam tournament, even though it seems unrealistic right now.