One in One Out for Saudi’s Growing Tennis Portfolio

Saudi Arabia’s positioning within the global tennis calendar is undergoing adjustment following two major announcements concerning the ATP and WTA’s end-of-season events. The Next Gen ATP Finals, which have been staged in Jeddah since 2023, will leave the Kingdom earlier than originally planned, ending after the 2025 edition despite an initial agreement expected to run for five years. In contrast, the WTA has confirmed it is in discussions to extend the hosting of the WTA Finals in Riyadh beyond the current arrangement, which covers 2024 to 2026.

The announcements come hot on the heels of last months news that Saudi Arabia will host a brand-new ATP Masters 1000 tournament - the first expansion of the elite Masters 1000 category since its creation in 1990, set to begin as early as 2028.

The Next Gen ATP Finals were introduced to showcase the sport’s rising stars and were seen as a strategic addition to Saudi Arabia’s expanding sports event portfolio. The early conclusion of the hosting term indicates a shift in priorities for both the ATP and the Saudi organisers, with the tour set to relocate the event from 2026 onwards. While no alternative host city has been formally announced, the decision marks the end of what was expected to be a long-term foothold for the ATP in the region.

Meanwhile, the WTA’s season-ending Finals, featuring the world’s top eight singles players and doubles teams, appear set for a longer tenure in Riyadh. The WTA has stated it is exploring an extension beyond 2026, reflecting satisfaction from both sides regarding attendance, commercial alignment and the strategic significance of the event’s presence in the Gulf. The Finals’ move to Saudi Arabia was initially viewed as a landmark decision in women’s tennis, placing one of the most prominent tournaments on the calendar in a new and rapidly developing market.

Together, these developments map a complex but clear narrative: Saudi Arabia is asserting itself not simply as a host of occasional marquee tennis events, but as a strategic partner in the architecture of the sport’s premium calendar. The upcoming Masters 1000, along with the WTA Finals extension, suggest a long-term vision of embedding elite tennis in the kingdom’s growing sports ecosystem - aligning with broader ambitions of economic diversification and global sporting prominence. For the ATP and WTA, the deals represent both opportunity and adjustment: the chance to tap a rapidly developing region, balanced against scheduling, legacy and reputational considerations.