ATP: soon 750 tournaments on the tour?
According to information from L´Équipe , one should seriously consider the idea of a new tournament category in circles of the ATP.
by tennisnet.com
last edit: Dec 19, 2020, 08:00 am
The request is not new: some events that are currently on the ATP Tour 500 level would like to feel higher valued. The one in Dubai, for example, which delivers a sold out center court and a strong field of participants year after year. Or the event in Beijing, which, like all other Asian events, fell victim to the corona pandemic in 2020. And the two European indoor tournaments in Rotterdam and Basel should also have such ambitions.
For a tournament on the scale of an ATP Masters 1000 event, however, it will not be enough at the aforementioned locations, with the possible exception of Beijing. It also remains to be seen whether the tennis euphoria in Switzerland after Roger Federer's resignation does not decline so far that the organizers in Basel are quite satisfied with the current endowment in terms of prize money and ATP points. Vienna would be more suitable - especially since a new multifunctional hall is to be built in the Austrian capital in the coming years.
The idea of establishing a 750 category between the 500s and 1000s has been around for a few years. However, it goes even one higher: Because Indian Wells, which sees itself closest to the Grand Slam tournaments, would have nothing to object to an upgrade. Around 1500 level.