The Middle East: from oasis to storm for tennis

The 2026 Six Kings Slam exhibition tennis event in Riyadh has been postponed from late October to December 27 after a Houthi terrorist attack on Riyadh airport killed 13 people and injured over 300, prompting Saudi air strikes on more than 100 rebel targets. The postponement highlights broader concerns about the ATP's ambitious plans to expand tennis in the Middle East, including a new Masters 1000 tournament in Saudi Arabia scheduled for 2028. Geopolitical instability in the region is now threatening the tennis establishment's partnership with its wealthiest prospective host.