The ATP has
announced several reforms in its tournaments: Three will be elevated to ATP 500
status starting in 2025, and the duration of several Masters 1000 events will
be extended. This is the latest initiative from ATP aimed at enhancing the
sports calendar and the premium product, in line with the OneVision strategy.
The bid to
improve the
Dallas Open was initiated by GF Sports & Entertainment and is
part of a relocation effort, with the new venue to be announced soon. The city
has a rich history as the host of major sporting events, such as the NBA
All-Star Game, the Super Bowl, and the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Doha's
Qatar ExxonMobil Open, an ATP 250 event, has been named Tournament of the Year
five times, as voted by the players. It is renowned for its world-class quality
standards and consistently attracts a strong field of competitors in its
category. The BMW
Open in Munich is poised for a large-scale facility renovation as part of this
modernization plan. Munich's bid was a collaborative effort between Iphitos
(owner of the ATP 250 event in Munich) and Champ AG (owner of the ATP 250 event
in Lyon).
As reported
by the ATP, the total prize money in Dallas, Qatar, and Munich will
significantly increase, with each tournament offering approximately $2.8
million in prize money from 2025. This will contribute to the expansion of the
Bonus Pool for the ATP 500 category. In total,
these three promotions will mean an additional approximately $51.7 million for
players over a five-year period within the ATP 500 category. However, the
calendar changes will also result in the retirement of the ATP 250 tournaments
in Atlanta, Lyon, and Newport:
"OneVision
is all about raising the bar for tennis, and unlocking new investment in the
game," ATP chairman Andrea Gaudenzi said on Wednesday.
"We're
thrilled to have our Dallas, Doha and Munich events step up to ATP 500 status -
delivering improved standards for players and most importantly an enhanced
product for our fans."
These
advancements will expand the ATP 500 category from 13 to 16 tournaments
throughout the season. These changes will also coincide with improvements in
the ATP Masters 1000 category, as seven out of the nine tournaments will take
place within a 12-day span starting from 2025.
These
promotions are the outcome of a competitive bidding process in collaboration
with Deloitte's Sports Business Group. The complete ATP Tour schedule for 2025
will be announced in the coming months.