Alexander Zverev isn’t against tennis heading to Saudi Arabia for a new Masters 1000 tournament. But he’s got some conditions.
The ATP dropped the news just a few days ago that Saudi Arabia will host a Masters 1000 event starting in 2028. It’ll be the tenth tournament at that level, and won’t replace any existing ones.
Nobody’s officially confirmed when it’ll happen, but February seems like the most likely month.
| Name | Age | Points | Stats 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alexander Zverev | 28 | 6,885 | 34 - 10 |
There’s also buzz that it might be non-mandatory, similar to how Monte-Carlo works. But that’s still just rumors until we get more details.
Saudi Arabia’s Growing Tennis Presence
This announcement didn’t come out of nowhere. Saudi Arabia’s been making some pretty big moves in tennis lately.
They’re already hosting the WTA Finals in Riyadh and the Next Gen Finals in Jeddah. Plus there’s the Six Kings Slam exhibition that’s been getting attention.
The country also finances a historic WTA maternity fund and sponsors the ATP rankings. So yeah, they’re definitely investing heavily in the sport.
But here’s the thing – Saudi Arabia’s role in sports remains controversial because of concerns about women’s rights and LGBTQ issues, despite some recent reforms.
Zverev’s Take on Playing There
At a press conference during the 2025 Vienna Open, someone asked Zverev if he had any reservations about playing in Saudi Arabia. The German, who actually competed at this year’s Six Kings Slam, said the country felt more open when he visited.
"On political matters, the context is not always the best, but they are trying to change. Three years ago, I wasn’t there, but this year it felt like a new country to me. I’m not a politician. If there is a Masters 1000 there, I play it."
He also pointed out that tennis has been played in places like Dubai and Doha for 30 years without major problems.
"They have been played in Dubai or Doha for 30 years, and I don’t think there have been any problems. I can speak for what I know, which is tennis. The ATP should start using that money to give something back to the players."
The Real Issue: Calendar Concerns
Here’s where Zverev gets really passionate. The world No. 3 has been one of the loudest critics of tennis’s crazy schedule.
He wants a shorter season with fewer mandatory tournaments. He’s previously said the ATP doesn’t really care about players’ wellbeing.
So when it comes to this new Saudi tournament, Zverev’s main concern isn’t political – it’s practical.
"If they promise us that, with the money from the 10th Masters 1000, they will get back tournaments and weeks and thus shorten the season, it would be great for us, the players."
His vision? Use the Saudi money to actually make life better for players instead of just adding another tournament to an already packed calendar.
"If the season is shortened by three or four weeks and we don’t have to play until the end of November or early December, but only until mid-November, it would be a great idea. If they don’t do anything with that money and just add a tournament, it would be a nice story, but it wouldn’t make much sense for the top 10 and top 20."
What Players Really Want
Zverev’s got some specific ideas about how this could work.
"Maybe buy back some of the year-end 250 tournaments or reorganise them, to have a season that is three or four weeks shorter and a preseason that is not only four weeks but maybe eight."
Basically, he wants the ATP to use Saudi money to buy out some late-season tournaments. This would give players a longer off-season to recover – eight weeks instead of four.
It’s a pretty smart approach when you think about it. Instead of just piling on another tournament, why not use the financial boost to actually improve conditions for the people who make the sport possible?
Whether the ATP will listen to players like Zverev remains to be seen. But with 2028 still a few years away, there’s time to figure out how to make this work for everyone.