The new Masters 1000 in Saudi Arabia that could shake up the South American tour
The possibility of a Masters 1000 arriving in Saudi Arabia had been considered for a long time. Now officially scheduled for 2028, this arrival poses a new problem, that of the clay court tour in South America.
Even though the date for this Middle Eastern tournament has not yet been officially announced, it is likely to take place in February, which is during the South American tour.
For Andrea Gaudenzi, chairman of the ATP, a coexistence is possible: "We would prefer it to be played in February, but it's a very busy month, there are certain constraints, and we will need the help of Tennis Australia for this to be possible.
Our goal is to have two tours running simultaneously in February: one in the Middle East, with the new Masters 1000, and the other in South America.
We need time to study the best way to proceed," he told the National News.
Although Gaudenzi is considering making these two tours coexist, it is difficult to imagine the world's best players going to South America, which would greatly diminish the quality of these tournaments.
