Saudi Arabia will host the new ATP Masters 1000 tournament from 2028

It has been more than eighteen months since invitations to bid were issued for Saudi Arabia, Dubai, Doha, Abu Dhabi and Australia, and the decision to choose Saudi Arabia has been one of the worst kept secrets in the sport.

It was always envisaged that a 10th Masters event would be held, but – until the rules were changed in a vote earlier this year – it had to be staged either in the first week of the year or on grass before Wimbledon.

But now, the tournament could be held at any time, and is expected to take place in February, when the ATP visits the Gulf region for events in Doha and Dubai.

But the ATP does not confirm this publicly because the date is guaranteed to upset someone.

Holding the tournament in Saudi Arabia in the first week of the year would be seen as a hostile gesture by Tennis Australia, as most of its leading men will not be playing in the country in the lead-up to the Australian Open.

Scheduling it in February could distract players from the traditional clay court competitions in Rio de Janeiro and Buenos Aires, and the European Indoor Championships such as the one in Rotterdam.

One preferred solution is to create two sets of February tournaments – one in the Middle East and one in South America – with European events moved to later in the year.

It is not yet known how much prize money the Saudi tournament will offer, but the ATP sets a minimum prize money for all Masters 1000 events.

Next week’s Paris Masters, which also features a 56-player field, will offer a minimum of €6,128,940 (£5,328,338).

Tournaments are allowed to pay out more prize money – as long as the increase is evenly distributed throughout the drawing.

This year’s Indian Wells Masters offered an additional $500,000 (£374,650), but it is rare for Masters 1000 events to offer more than the minimum required.