In a significant shift in the global tennis calendar, the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) announced on Thursday that Saudi Arabia will be the new host for the NextGen Men’s Finals, a competition tailored for players under 21, until 2027. The end-of-season event will be held in Jeddah, commencing this year.
This transition marks the first time the ATP is shifting its competitive events to Saudi Arabia. An exciting addition to this shift is the significant increase in prize money, amounting to a whopping two million dollars, a record for the championship. The NextGen Finals, which made its debut in Milan in 2017, has rapidly become a marquee event in the tennis calendar.
Earlier in March, the ATP initiated an evaluation process to identify prospective cities keen on hosting the renowned tournament. Andrea Gaudenzi, the chairman of ATP, mentioned in a statement, “Our professional tournaments are global events, and it’s essential to explore new markets for the evolution of the game.”
Bringing the NextGen Finals to Jeddah provides an opportunity to inspire an audience in a region with a vast young population, Gaudenzi added. “It serves as an avenue to unify tennis fans and enthusiasts,” he highlighted. Gaudenzi concluded by extending his congratulations to Jeddah and the Saudi Tennis Federation, emphasizing the collective anticipation to foster the event into achieving tremendous success.
Earlier this year, Gaudenzi revealed constructive discussions with the Saudi Investment Fund, hinting at this potential partnership.
While other Arab nations like Qatar and the United Arab Emirates have previously hosted ATP tournaments, Saudi Arabia’s tennis portfolio primarily showcased the exhibitionary Diriyah Cup. This new venture amplifies Saudi Arabia’s ambition and commitment to cultivating tennis within the region.
