Saudi Fund Helps ATP Buy Back Small and Medium Tennis Events to Make Way for Middle East Masters

Recently, The New York Times revealed that in 2025, ATP bought back four ATP 250 events: Chengdu Open, Hong Kong Open, Moselle Open in Metz, and Kremlin Cup in Moscow.

Not long ago, ATP began further promoting the buyback of small and medium events: With funding from SURJ, the sports arm of Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund (PIF), ATP is negotiating for the Argentina Open (ATP 250) and the Mexican Open (ATP 500).

The New York Times noted that the bid for each 250 event license is approximately $15-20 million, and for 500 events $35-45 million, with the final transaction price significantly higher than the bid. Buying back licenses does not mean the cancellation of events—after repurchasing, ATP may lease the license again in the same or different time slots.

Above: Cobolli wins the 2026 Mexican Open

These two South American events are held annually in February. SURJ's move aims to make room for the new ATP 1000 Saudi Masters—in October 2025, SURJ reached an agreement with ATP to launch a new ATP 1000 Masters event in 2028, the first expansion of the Masters series since 1990. (Click for details)

Two years ago, SURJ began pushing for a new event in Saudi Arabia. The first plan was to hold the new event before the Australian Open, but the Australian Open vetoed it. Subsequently, the focus shifted to February—every February, multiple high-level ATP and WTA events are held in Middle Eastern cities like Doha and Dubai, attracting top players.

Above: Medvedev wins the 2026 Dubai Open

The February ATP schedule is particularly crowded. ATP Chairman Andrea Gaudenzi also envisioned a "dual-track" plan, holding clay and hard court events simultaneously in South America and the Middle East. The new Saudi event would be placed before the Indian Wells Open in March. But this plan faced resistance from Dubai and Qatar.

Ultimately, ATP decided to clear the autumn schedule, offering players the possibility of extended breaks and making it easier to move some events from February to the end of the season.

In response, an ATP spokesperson said that ATP is optimizing the tour schedule to build a more balanced calendar from 2028, gradually shortening the season and extending players' off-season while maintaining influence and commercial performance. Previously, many tennis players had expressed that the year-round season was too long and burdensome.

Regarding SURJ's impending acquisition of two South American events, an article in Chile's El Mercurio stated that although the Chilean event has not yet been mentioned in negotiations, the news has increased uncertainty for Latin American tennis. This continent has a long tennis history but lacks sufficient funding to secure a commensurate position in the schedule.

Catalina Fillol, tournament director of the Chile Open, said: "(In terms of funding) No pocket can withstand it! Especially considering our budget in South America." She added that if changes are coming, the team will cooperate and adapt to the new schedule.

| Sources: The New York Times; El Mercurio

| Image Credits: ATP official website; players' personal social media