ATP Masters 1000 tournaments sit just below the Grand Slams in prestige and ranking points. They form the core of the men’s professional calendar, shaping the race for No. 1, seeding at majors and qualification for the ATP Finals.
The series is defined by large draws, deep fields and high point totals. This guide explains what a Masters 1000 event is, how the tournaments are structured, how ranking points work and why these events are often considered the sport’s most important titles outside the majors.
What is a Masters 1000 event. Masters 1000 is the highest tier of ATP tournaments below the Grand Slams. The name comes from the 1,000 ranking points awarded to the singles champion at each event.
Masters 1000 tournaments feature most of the world’s top players, large draws across multiple rounds, significant prize money and a major influence on rankings and seeding. Along with the four Grand Slams and the Nitto ATP Finals, they make up what the tour collectively refers to as the Big Titles.
The nine Masters 1000 tournaments. The current Masters 1000 calendar includes nine events: Indian Wells, Miami, Monte Carlo, Madrid, Rome, Canada (alternating yearly between Toronto and Montreal), Cincinnati, Shanghai and Paris.
Five events are played on outdoor hard courts, three on clay and one, Paris, on indoor hard court. In October 2025 the ATP announced a tenth Masters 1000 tournament in Saudi Arabia, expected to debut in 2028 with a 56-player non-mandatory field, though its calendar slot has not yet been confirmed.
Tournament format and draw sizes. Masters 1000 events are no longer uniform in format. Following the ATP’s OneVision reforms, seven of the nine tournaments now run over 12 days with a 96-player singles draw: Indian Wells, Miami, Madrid, Rome, Canada, Cincinnati and Shanghai.
Only Monte Carlo and Paris retain the traditional one-week, 56-player format. At the 96-draw events, the top 32 seeds typically receive first-round byes and begin their tournaments in the second round. Every Masters 1000 match, including the final, is played as best-of-three sets. Qualifying draws, wildcards and lucky loser spots operate alongside the main draw at every event.
Are Masters 1000 events mandatory. Eight of the nine Masters 1000 tournaments are mandatory for eligible top players under ATP rules. Players ranked high enough to gain direct entry are required to compete unless granted an exemption for injury, medical reasons or other approved circumstances.
Missing a mandatory event without an exemption counts as a zero toward a player’s ranking total. Monte Carlo is the sole exception. It carries full 1,000-point status but is formally non-mandatory, meaning top players can choose to skip it without penalty. A standalone guide to the mandatory rules is available separately.
Ranking points at Masters 1000 events. Masters 1000 points are second only to Grand Slams in the ATP system. Under the current structure, the singles champion earns 1,000 points, the finalist 600, semifinalists 360, quarterfinalists 180 and round of 16 losers 90.
Third-round losers at 96-draw events earn 45 points, and second-round losers 10. Players who receive a first-round bye and lose their opening match are credited with first-round loser points. Qualifiers earn additional points for advancing through qualifying rounds.
How Masters 1000 results shape the season. Because the series runs from March to November and crosses three surfaces, Masters 1000 results tend to reveal which players can sustain elite form year-round rather than peak for a single fortnight.
Strong runs directly influence Grand Slam seeding, momentum into majors, the year-end No. 1 race and the eight qualifying places at the Nitto ATP Finals. A deep run at a single Masters event can swing hundreds of points in a player’s 52-week total, making these weeks among the most consequential on the calendar.
Masters 1000 vs Grand Slams. The two categories sit at the top of the men’s game but differ meaningfully in scale and format. Grand Slams award 2,000 points to the champion, use a 128-player draw, are played as best-of-five sets for men and run over two weeks.
Masters 1000 events award 1,000 points, use draws of either 56 or 96 players, are played as best-of-three sets throughout and run over one or two weeks depending on the tournament.
Grand Slams remain the sport’s defining championships, but Masters 1000 events are the most important titles for week-to-week tour dominance, and a career Golden Masters — winning all nine — is one of the rarest achievements in tennis. Only Novak Djokovic has completed it.
Frequently asked questions
How many Masters 1000 tournaments are there? Nine, with a tenth scheduled to join the calendar in Saudi Arabia from 2028.
Do all Masters 1000 events have the same format? No. Seven are 96-draw, 12-day events; Monte Carlo and Paris remain 56-draw, one-week events.
Is Monte Carlo a Masters 1000? Yes. It carries full 1,000-point status but is the only Masters 1000 that is non-mandatory for top players.
How many points does the Masters 1000 champion earn? 1,000 ranking points.
Are Masters 1000 finals best-of-three or best-of-five? Best-of-three. The series moved fully to best-of-three finals in 2008.
Which player has won the most Masters 1000 titles? Novak Djokovic, with 40, and the only player to complete the career Golden Masters.
