Boris Becker explains why he thinks the new Saudi Arabian Masters 1000 event is not good for fans

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The new Saudi Arabian Masters 1000 event is set to be introduced from 2028.

In what is the first-ever expansion of the Masters 1000 category, the non-mandatory Saudi Arabian tournament will begin in three years’ time.

Several players, past and present, have shared their thoughts on the new event, with some questioning where it will fit into the calendar.

Former world number one Boris Becker has now given his verdict on the announcement, suggesting that the Saudi Arabian Masters may be bad news for tennis fans.

Boris Becker thinks there is ‘too much’ tennis for fans to keep up with

During an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport, Becker was asked to comment on the Saudi Arabian Masters.

“There are so many tournaments, that’s for sure,” he said.

“Ultimately, it’s up to the players to decide how many weeks they want to play in a row.

“But it’s difficult for fans to follow tennis every week; it can get confusing. Sometimes there are two tournaments at the same time, and especially in the second half of the year, when everyone is trying to qualify for the [ATP] Finals, things get complicated.”

The German ATP legend is concerned that the product is becoming saturated, with so much tennis to watch.

“I think there’s too much tennis. The public should be a little hungry: if there’s tennis every week, the offer becomes saturated,” said Becker.

“For the players, it’s an opportunity to work constantly, but for the fans and the media, it’s really a lot, perhaps too much.”

The tennis calendar is already packed, with little room for players and fans to take a break from the sport.

For example, take Becker’s fellow German, Alexander Zverev, a top-three player on the ATP Tour.

To achieve his current ranking, Zverev has played 25 different events this year, and still has one to play…

Alexander Zverev’s 2025 schedule

The world number three began his 2025 campaign back in 2024, at the United Cup, and is still going, as we edge closer to December.

The thought of adding more tournaments to such a busy calendar seems crazy and potentially damaging when considering the effects it could have on players’ bodies over time.

Even if the event is ‘non-mandatory’, the pressure on players to compete for ATP points, combined with the hefty appearance fees many expect to be offered, makes it unlikely that anyone will skip the tournament in Saudi Arabia.

If the new tournament is to find a place on the calendar, other events must drop out.

A player of Zverev’s quality cannot play and play well at 27 tournaments a year and expect to enjoy a healthy, long career on the ATP Tour.

Only time will tell whether the schedule will change again before the event in Saudi Arabia begins, but it will certainly be something to look out for.

Zverev is set to play his final tournament of 2025 at the Davis Cup Finals, which begin on Tuesday, November 18.