Next Gen ATP Finals to leave Saudi Arabia, cutting contract short by two years

The Next Gen ATP Finals, the men’s tennis competition for the best players under the age of 20, will leave its current venue in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia two years early.

According to a source briefed on the discussions, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly, the Saudi Tennis Federation (STF) has decided to exercise an opt-out clause after three years of the five-year deal. The Athletic has contacted representatives for the ATP and STF for comment as to why the latter reached that decision.

The ATP issued a news release Friday afternoon, following a report from The National, confirming that it had launched a bidding process to decide the next host city, starting from 2026. The third and now final event in Jeddah will still take place as planned this December.

The Next Gen ATP Finals was the first major tennis event to be played in Saudi Arabia, and in hindsight has become a launchpad for its growing power in the sport. The country’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) sponsors the world rankings on both the ATP and WTA Tours, while the WTA Tour Finals, for the eight best women’s players of the year, will be held in Riyadh until at least 2027.

It was announced last month that an ATP Masters 1000 event, the rung below the Grand Slams, will be played in Saudi Arabia for the first time as early as 2028. Friday’s news though represents a reduction of the country’s professional tennis footprint.

ATP Tour chairman Andrea Gaudenzi thanked the STF for “their vision in creating something truly exceptional” in a statement.

Since its inception in 2017, the tournament has also been a testbed for experimentation. Electronic line calling (ELC), video reviews for close calls, and data integration through wearable technology have since been adopted across the ATP Tour. Other changes, like sets of first to four games, remain unique to the event.

The Next Gen ATP Finals has also been a reliable indicator of future success. Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner are among the former champions, and last year’s winner and runner-up, João Fonseca and Learner Tien, have secured and are in line for top-30 finishes this year respectively.

Alcaraz’s success at such a young age though led to a rule change, lowering the age eligibility from 21 to 20 from the 2024 event onwards.

Candidate venues to replace Jeddah will need to submit final bids by January 22, 2026. A shortlist of potential cities will then be selected, with the final location announced early next year.

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