ATP Considers a One-Week Masters 1000 in Saudi Arabia

The ongoing saga surrounding the creation of a thirteenth Masters 1000 in the ATP calendar continues.

As revealed by *L’Equipe* this Friday, tennis officials are taking advantage of the Madrid tournament to meet behind the scenes and discuss the future of the sport. Talks are reportedly underway among ATP officials to introduce a significant change to the schedule: a Masters 1000 event in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia.

While the rumor seems to gain more traction each day, the details of the tournament are being outlined. February has reportedly been chosen as the month to host the event, meaning Indian Wells would no longer be the first Masters 1000 of the year.

This new tournament could be scheduled before or after the Doha and Dubai events, both of which are ATP 500 tournaments. It would follow the traditional one-week format, featuring a 56-player draw with eight seeded players. Although nothing has been officially confirmed, all signs point toward a positive direction for a debut edition in 2028.

The ATP board will meet tomorrow to discuss the matter while continuing to review other potential changes to the calendar.