The ATP Tour will gain another ‘big’ tournament from 2028.
In three years, Saudi Arabia will host a Masters 1000 event for the first time, joining Monte-Carlo as the only other ‘non-mandatory’ Masters tournament.
Reacting to the news, Jannik Sinner said he felt positive about the event in Saudi Arabia, which might not come as too much of a surprise, given the success he’s enjoyed in the nation (2X Six Kings Slam winner).
He isn’t the only player to have been asked for his thoughts, as world number three Alexander Zverev received plenty of questions about the news during his latest press conference in Vienna.
Making the most of his chance to speak, Zverev urged the ATP Tour to make a big change following the announcement.
Alexander Zverev wants the ATP Tour to ‘buy back weeks’ with Saudi money
After Zverev beat Matteo Arnaldi in the second round of the Vienna Open, he commented on the announcement of the new tenth Masters event.
“If they promise us that with the money from the tenth Masters they’ll buy back tournaments/weeks and therefore shorten the season, it would be fantastic for us players,” he said.
“If the season were shortened by three or four weeks and we didn’t have to play until the end of November or the beginning of December, but only until mid-November, that would be a great idea.
“If they didn’t do anything with that money and just added one tournament, it would be a nice story, but it wouldn’t make much sense for the Top 10/Top 20. I hope we’re on the right track.”
The German insisted that he enjoyed his time in Saudi Arabia recently, but reiterated his thoughts about the tennis schedule.
“As for Saudi Arabia, I enjoyed it; I really enjoyed being there. It’s a country that’s doing a lot in the sport, and it’s great to see that,” said Zverev.
“But I’d also like to see the ATP take the next steps: perhaps buy back some of the end-of-year tournaments or rearrange them, to have a season that’s three or four weeks shorter and a preseason that’s not just four weeks, but maybe eight.
“It would be beneficial for all the top players. Having three more weeks of preseason would be fantastic.”
Former world number one Andy Roddick agrees with Zverev and suggested the same thing during the latest episode of ‘Quick Served’.
“How much of this revenue and how much of this deal is going to buy-backs?” he asked.
“That is one of the only ways that you are going to get a shorter schedule eventually.
“You aren’t buying tournaments, you are buying weeks in the calendar, which has to happen at some point.
“I would love it if they said X-amount of this deal is to get back and claw back a month of the season.”
Only time will tell what the ATP Tour chooses to do with the Saudi Arabian money, but it’s clear to see what Roddick and Zverev think should be done.
How much money did Alexander Zverev earn in Saudi Arabia?
Zverev was looking at the bigger picture, providing a solution to the very prominent calendar problem, but for the German and his fellow top-10 stars, the announcement of the Saudi Arabian Masters is good news, at least financially.
Making his debut at the Six Kings Slam recently, Zverev lost his opening match to Taylor Fritz in less than an hour.
Despite falling at the first hurdle, Zverev pocketed a mouthwatering $1.5 million.
The prize money and appearance fees on offer at the 2028 Saudi Arabian Masters are likely to be similarly impressive, and they will need to be to attract players to compete at a non-mandatory event.
Alexander Zverev eases into Vienna quarterfinals
Zverev didn’t have things all his own way in his opening match in Vienna, as he battled past Jacob Fearnley in three sets, 6-4, 1-6, 7-6.
He then picked up a comfortable win over Arnaldi, 6-4, 6-4, to set up a quarterfinal clash with Tallon Griekspoor.
Unfortunately for the Dutchman, he was unable to take to the court for their match, as he withdrew from the tournament with a back injury.
Zverev will now play either Corentin Moutet or Lorenzo Musetti in the semifinals.
The 2025 Vienna Open semifinals will take place on Saturday, October 25.
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