Qatar Attracts Tennis Stars with Lucrative ‘Promotional Fees’ in Doha Tournament

Doha is pulling out all the stops to attract tennis’s biggest names to the Qatar ExxonMobil Open, beginning tomorrow, leveraging a unique ATP rule allowing for substantial “promotional fees” alongside prize money.

The tournament boasts a luxurious draw featuring the world’s top two players, Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner, alongside three players currently ranked in the top 10 and seven within the top 20. Even a late withdrawal from Novak Djokovic, the Qatar Airways ambassador, hasn’t diminished the field’s strength.

While ATP chairman Andrea Gaudenzi contemplates a “premium” circuit for 2028 centered around Masters 1000 events and the potential addition of a Saudi Arabian stage, organizers of smaller ATP 500 and 250 tournaments are considering their future. Some fear obsolescence, particularly those in South America, while others, bolstered by significant financial investment, aspire to reach the 1000 level, mirroring the ambition of Riyadh.

Investments

Qatar’s commitment to tennis is well-established, stemming from the personal passion of Emir Al Thani, owner of Paris Saint-Germain, and his associate Nasser Al Khelaifi, president of the French football club and the European Club Association. Both have a history in the sport, with Al Khelaifi having competed in Davis Cup and reaching a career-high ATP ranking of 995.

The country’s broader strategy of economic diversification and geopolitical influence, prominently displayed during the 2022 FIFA World Cup, extends to racket sports. In 2023, Qatar Sports Investment acquired the World Padel Tour, and the nation has hosted professional tennis tournaments since 1993, attracting legendary players like Edberg, Federer, Nadal, Murray, and Djokovic. The tournament was upgraded from ATP 250 to ATP 500 level in 2025, accompanied by an increase in the prize pool from $1.4 million to $2.8 million.

Promotional Fee

The Qatar ExxonMobil Open is capitalizing on an ATP regulation that permits 500 and 250 tournaments to offer players compensation for professional services – commonly known as “promotional fees.” These fees are justified by the commercial appeal of top players; the greater the appeal, the higher the compensation. Sources within the tour indicate that Alcaraz and Sinner are each receiving approximately $1.2 million in promotional fees for their participation in Doha. While top players typically earn between $800,000 and $1 million, Qatar’s financial resources allow for increased compensation.

This figure significantly exceeds the winner’s prize money, which stands at $529,945, with the runner-up receiving $285,095.

Classification

The ATP ranking system underwent changes this year, reducing the number of tournaments contributing to a player’s ranking from 19 to 18 (plus any Finals). The number of mandatory ATP 500 tournaments has also decreased from five to four, with one required to be played after the US Open.

These changes impact “commitment players” – those who finished the previous season in the top 30. Withdrawing from a mandatory ATP 500 tournament results in zero ranking points, unless the absence is due to a prolonged injury. Players can replace the zero points by playing an additional ATP 500 tournament during the calendar year, but only once per season. Participation in four ATP 500 tournaments is also required to qualify for the end-of-year “bonus pool,” which totals $3.1 million. Last year, Alcaraz earned $1.2 million from this bonus, while Sinner received none, having competed in only three 500-level events.