Jannik Sinner Gives His Take on Launch of New ATP Masters 1000 in Saudi Arabia
Jannik Sinner is bidding to win his fourth title of the season at the Vienna Open, where he will next meet Alexander Bublik.
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Jannik Sinner (Image via ATP/X)
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SURJ Sports Investment, a Public Investment Fund’s (PIF) company, will be hosting a new Masters 1000 tournament in Saudi Arabia, with the Kingdom becoming the 10th host for an event of this level. The first edition of the event is scheduled to start in 2028.
It will join the nine existing Masters 1000s, which are: Indian Wells, Miami Open, Monte Carlo Masters, Madrid Open, Italian Open, Canadian Open, Cincinnati Masters, Shanghai Masters, and Paris Masters. The Kingdom already hosts three big events: the WTA Finals, Next-Gen ATP Finals, and the Six Kings Slam.
The latter is an exhibition event, but it gained a considerable amount of attention, all thanks to the huge prize money of $6 million that the winner pockets. In the first two editions, the tournament ended with Jannik Sinner, who is positive about the Masters 1000 event. He talked about the same during the press conference in Vienna, where he’s chasing his second ATP 500 title of the season.
I believe this is the first time a Masters 1000 has been added to the calendar. From my experience in that country, the population is very young, and the market could become very large: I see it positively, let’s see what it will bring to us players.
Sinner defeated Carlos Alcaraz in both the Six Kings Slam finals. Although the Italian doesn’t have any problem with the event, fans are anticipating more players’ complaints about the 11-month calendar.
A Masters is important for the points and for those who are starting to play at that level. I’m not exactly sure when it will be played, but overall, I think it’s a positive thing.
Jannik Sinner added
More reactions from the tennis world about the event are expected to come in the next few days. Players are requesting the ATP every now and then to make some changes to the schedule to make the off-season longer and to give some more time in between events.
Jannik Sinner on his match against Flavio Cobolli
Jannik Sinner swept past Daniel Altmaier, losing only two games, in the first round of the Vienna Open. But in the second round, against compatriot Flavio Cobolli, the four-time Grand Slam champion was on the verge of losing the second set but eventually wrapped the match in his favor with a 6-2, 7-6(4) scoreline.
Flavio is having an incredible season and is improving week after week. I couldn’t wait to play this match; he’s one of the very few Italians I hadn’t faced yet. He’s a great talent and a great fighter. I wish him the best for the rest of the season.
Jannik Sinner said at the press conference
The win helped the 24-year-old take a 1-0 head-to-head lead over Cobolli. Sinner has a tough match ahead of him as he’s next scheduled to lock horns with Alexander Bublik.
It was the Kazakh ace who knocked Sinner out in the second round of the Halle Open this year before beating Daniil Medvedev in the final. But Sinner took his revenge by handing him triple breadsticks in the fourth round of the US Open.
Bublik is chasing his fifth title of the season while Sinner is chasing his fourth one. Against Bublik, the World No.2 holds a 5-2 head-to-head lead. While Bublik is aiming to win his first Vienna Open title of the season, Sinner has already bagged the trophy by beating Medvedev in 2023, skipping the tournament last year.
The last official title Sinner won was the China Open, following which he was forced to withdraw from the Shanghai Masters third round due to cramps. After Vienna, Sinner will play the Paris Masters.
Also read: Elena Rybakina Admits her “Last Push” For a Place in the WTA Finals has Taken a Toll on her
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