Beijing and Shanghai will both be included on the
roster for the revamped men’s professional tennis circuit from 2009. While
Shanghai will host one of the mainstream Masters tennis tournaments, Beijing
will be one of 10 cities to host the ATP 500 series, a new round of men’s
professional tennis tournaments from 2009.
The Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP), the
governing body of men's professional tennis, announced that Rotterdam,
Dubai,
Acapulco,
Memphis,
Barcelona,
Washington,
Beijing,
Tokyo,
Basel
and Valencia
will host the new second tier of ATP 500 tournaments – which rank below the
main Masters series of nine tournaments, one of which will be hosted in
Shanghai. Adding Tokyo and Beijing to the roster means that a mini “Asian Tour”
will be held following the annual US Open, with Masters tennis in Shanghai and
ATP 500 tournaments in Beijing and Tokyo.
Between them, the 10 ATP 500 cities will make a
financial commitment of USD20.7m from 2009. Offering 500 points for each
champion, the ATP 500 tournaments will “create a global standard tier of
premium tournaments and ensure a stronger broadcast and sponsor proposition
from 2009,” according to the ATP web site.
The ATP is revamping its entire tour structure from
2009, following complaints from players, fans and broadcasters that the present
overloaded calendar was affecting tournament standards, with increasing rates
of injury depriving certain events of the best players, particularly during the
latter part of the season.
Between them the ATP 500 tournaments are slated to
bring over USD200m of investment into new stadia in Acapulco, Beijing and
Valencia; as well as existing facility upgrades in Barcelona, Rotterdam, Dubai
and Memphis.
"The changes we are undertaking represent the
biggest shake up of the ATP Tour since its inception but reflect a true
appetite for the sport in emerging and key markets; as well as an expression of
ambition and confidence in the future. In total more than USD1 bin of added
capital and increases in tournament 'on site financial' commitments will be
made," said Etienne de Villiers, Executive Chairman of the ATP.
The fully revamped 2009 ATP calendar will be published
at the Tennis Masters Cup in Shanghai next month, the final chapter of a
three-year run for the season-ending men’s tournament in China’s commercial
capital before it transfers to London.
Last update : Saturday, 06 October 2007
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