Served with Andy Roddick QUICK SERVED: NEW MASTERS 1000 IN SAUDI ARABIA
18 snips
Oct 23, 2025 A new 10th Masters 1000 tournament is making waves by landing in Saudi Arabia. The hosts explore how its non-mandatory status and hefty appearance fees could reshape the tennis landscape. They discuss potential calendar placements and the implications for existing tournaments, particularly in South America and the Middle East. Player fatigue is a hot topic, with top names expressing burnout concerns over the lengthy season. Ultimately, the discussion suggests that these changes could serve as a bargaining chip for players seeking better representation.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Saudi Masters 1000 Announced Without Dates
- The ATP announced a 10th Masters 1000 event to be held in Saudi Arabia, starting as early as 2028.
- The press release omitted the calendar slot, leaving major scheduling questions unresolved.
Non-Mandatory Status Enables Appearance Fees
- Andy Roddick flags non-mandatory status as the key change that enables huge appearance fees.
- That status could create a
Money Could Reshape The Tour Calendar
- Jon Wertheim highlights that Masters events traditionally avoid appearance fees, but Saudi's money changes incentives.
- The ATP may use incoming funds to buy and remove other tournaments or weeks from the calendar.