ATP in talks with Saudis about Masters tournament

The ATP Tour is "in discussions" with Saudi Arabia to stage a new Masters tournament "that would finish only one week before the beginning of the Australian Open." Beginning in 2025, top players "could open the year in Riyadh, rather than Brisbane and Sydney" if the Tour approves a "radical change in the way in which the schedule starts." The proposed investment from Saudi Arabia "would be worth hundreds of millions of pounds," and the proposal is "being floated between ATP chiefs and representatives of the Public Investment Fund" of Saudi Arabia. Meetings will be held during next week’s ATP Finals in Turin "to decide whether this is a feasible option for the tour" (London TIMES, 11/6).