A deal that had been rejected less than 18 months earlier was also announced weeks after PIF pulled the plug on its multibillion-dollar investment in LIV Golf.
Tennis was threatened with a LIV-style battle for its future when PIF announced multi-year partnerships with both the ATP and WTA in 2024.
The latter deal prompted backlash led by Martina Navratilova and Chris Evert after it included staging the season-ending WTA Tour Finals in Saudi Arabia, a country notorious for the oppression of women.
Turki Alalshikh, the chairman of Saudi’s General Entertainment Authority, also created the so-called Six Kings Slam, an annual exhibition event for men in Riyadh which features a record $6m (£4.7m) in prize money for the winner. Jannik Sinner beat Carlos Alcaraz in the final of the first two editions.
Announcing the new tennis centre, Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Faisal, the Saudi sports minister and president of its Olympic and Paralympic committee, said: “The centre has the necessary capabilities to host major tournaments and elite players, having been built according to the highest international specifications and standards. This reflects the commitment to developing the tennis ecosystem in the Kingdom, as with other sports, by enhancing infrastructure and programs that support the scouting and development of Saudi talent. These efforts help guide players from the amateur stage to professionalism while contributing to the achievement of the sports objectives of Saudi Vision 2030.”
Eno Polo, the ATP chief executive, said: “The National Tennis Centre at Qiddiya City is a remarkable addition to the global tennis landscape. As the largest tennis facility of its kind in the region, it reflects a bold vision for the future of tennis and a commitment to creating more opportunities for people to engage with our sport, whether as players, fans or members of the wider community.
“Facilities of this scale and quality play an important role in the continued growth of tennis. By providing a world-class stage for competition alongside opportunities for participation at all levels, the National Tennis Centre has the potential to make a lasting impact on the sport across the region for years to come.”