- The first ATP Cup event will take place from January 2020.
- A total of $ 15 million in prize money will be offered to 100 participating players.
- Sydney and Brisbane named two venues, followed by a third Australian location.
The Australian cities Sydney and Brisbane were announced as the first two venues for the latest team event in men’s tennis. The ATP Cup will be in the calendar for the first time from January 2020.
A third city will later be named to co-organize games for the tournament’s inaugural edition for a total fund of $ 15 million.
“With more than 100 players from 24 nations vying for $ 15 million in prize money and 750 ATP leaderboard points, the ATP Trophy will help us launch the global tennis season in Australia every year,” said Craig Tiley, CEO of Tennis Australia at the announcement on Monday.
Due to the crowded tennis schedule at the beginning of each year before the Australian Open, the ATP is aware that the ATP Cup will clash with some other tournaments. However, it remains confident that the inclusion of a prestige competition will be a welcome inclusion.
In the format of the ATP Cup, 24 nations will be split into six groups, with eight going in a knockout phase. Sydney, the venue of the finals, will be announced on Friday for $ 36 million for the Olympic Park Tennis Center. It also means that the main venue is reconsidered.
Perth, which hosted the mixed Hopman Cup team for 30 years, and Adelaide are the other cities expected to stage the group stage of the event.
“I think it’s great, I think that’s the kind of event tennis used to cry for, you know it has to be fun, you have to try and win people who do not watch tennis to watch tennis . ” said the Australian tennis star Nick Kyrgios, who was also present at the announcement.
The 24-team tournament is seen as a threat to the revised Davis Cup competition by the International Tennis Federation (ITF), which will start in Madrid this November.
“This is never an attempt to damage the Davis Cup, but we need to look ahead,” said ATP President Chris Kermode to CNBC in November. “I think they can run side by side, other sports have shown that you can do several team events, and I think it’s a problem to have them close to each other, but I can see they’ll be resolved someday.”
The new ATP event also has important implications for the other men and mixed events in Australia and beyond, including the Qatar Open. These events have traditionally been used by players to prepare for the first Grand Slam of the year in Melbourne.
