The ATP Tour is facing a backlash from certain people after announcing a new tournament to take place in Saudi Arabia.
It was claimed last week that the ATP are taking a Masters 1000 event to Saudi Arabia from 2028 with the prize money to remain in line with the current events in that bracket.
Steve Johnson has already shared some doubts over the tournament, which will feature 56 players and will likely take place after the Australian Open in February.
It feels certain that a number of smaller tournaments will fall by the wayside and some of the ATP 250 or 500 events will almost certainly become a thing of the past.
With Saudi Arabia leaving no stone unturned in the world of sport, however, it feels as though this competition will now become the norm from 2028.
John Isner launches rant on new Saudi Arabia Masters 1000 event
If Steve Johnson was quite concerned, Isner is simply downright angry and he just doesn’t think this can go ahead under the current proposals.
He believes that too many tournaments would end up ceasing, including ones that form the foundations of the tour and have been part of the schedule for a number of years.
Speaking on the Nothing Major podcast, Isner went on an astonishing rant and he essentially slammed the idea as possible given the current proposed parameters.
“It’s completely ridiculous. There are more questions than answers right now.
“Yes, we are adding a 10th Masters series and putting it somewhere in January or February.
“Is it before or after Australia? It’s likely not going to be before Australia. Craig Tilley is not going to like that. It’s not mandatory. That is ridiculous. All the other Masters tournaments are mandatory.
“You can’t just make the prize money $5 million for the winner. Indian Wells tried to do that years ago and the Tour said no. It’s completely ridiculous. How can you make it non-mandatory?
“Why would Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz play a non-mandatory Masters after the Australian Open? Are they going to offer an appearance fee? The whole thing is completely under the table.
“For Sinner and Alcaraz to play a non-mandatory event after the Australian Open would be absurd. Let’s assume they play in the final, there is no reason at all for them to go and play a 1000 event that is in February, where the winner gets $1.2 million, where it’s a standard Masters series event.
“So logically you would think there is going to be appearance fees under the table for these guys to show up and play. It’s completely ridiculous. There is way more questions than answers right now and it makes no sense.
“It’s cannibalising the rest of the Tour. What happens to Rotterdam? It’s been there forever. It’s a fantastic event and is one of the flagship events of the ATP Tour. It’s probably the flagship 500 event. It’s been so successful. What happens to Rotterdam and Dallas? Are they going to be offered money to just go away?”
The Saudi Arabia Masters event will need to be finalised properly
Isner has the sport of tennis in his best interests with these comments, and he does raise some very valid points to say the least.
Unlike the Six Kings Slam, the prize pot for the winner won’t stand at $6 million and that begs the question as to why the top players would play in it if it’s not made mandatory.
The likes of Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner, Taylor Fritz and Alexander Zverev will likely be paid just to go over and play, which doesn’t necessarily feel right.
Despite the fact that it’s now been announced, it does feel as though some things do still need to be finalised, not least where it will sit in the schedule.
It’s quite telling that someone like Isner appears to be dead against the event and it remains to be seen if there will be any similar angst from any of the current ATP stars.
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