(LONDON) Saudi Arabia will host the Next Gen ATP Finals in Jeddah until 2027, following a deal announced on Thursday marking the sport’s newest association with the kingdom.
The end-of-season tournament bringing together the best ATP players under the age of 21 will take place this year, from November 28 to December 2, on the indoor grounds of the King Abdullah Sports Center.
The purse for the event will climb to two million US, compared to 1.4 million in 2022. The last five editions of the tournament were held in Milan.
This is the first time that the ATP will present an official event in Saudi Arabia. The men’s tennis circuit joins other sports circuits that have recently partnered with the kingdom’s sovereign wealth fund, which is estimated at around 700 billion.
WTA President Steve Simon visited the kingdom with players in February and acknowledged shortly before Wimbledon that his tour “continues to have conversations” with the Saudis.
The association between professional sport and Saudi Arabia remains controversial, as the kingdom continues to violate several human rights.
