Sydney to stage finals of new ATP Cup event

Sydney has secured the finals matches of a major new global event to launch the tennis season, the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) Cup for three years from 2020.

Brisbane, and a third capital city to be confirmed soon, will also join Sydney in hosting the group stages of the new event, which the ATP has created to rival the International Tennis Federation’s Davis Cup.

The finals of the new event will be held in the soon-to-be refurbished Ken Rosewall Arena at Sydney Olympic Park.

Announcing the hosting details for the event to an audience including ATP World Tour Executive Chairman & President Chris Kermode and a group of top players from this year’s Sydney International and FAST4 events, Tennis Australia Chief Executive Craig Tiley today advised “with more than 100 players from 24 nations vying for $22 million in prize money and 750 ATP ranking points, the ATP Cup will help us launch the global tennis season every January in Australia.”

Kermode added “the ATP Cup fits perfectly with our strategy to innovate and look towards the future. We know from our extensive discussions with the players that the ATP Cup will provide a great way for them to open their season - bringing together the world’s best for a major team event that compliments existing scheduling, provides highly-coveted ATP ranking points and clearly links to the Australian Open.

“The first week of the season is when the players want to play and that’s why the tournament has their strong support. By staging the event with Tennis Australia, which is renowned for its experience as an outstanding event promoter, we know that the tournament will be a great success from year one.”

Tiley went on to say that Tennis Australia had a vision for the future of the Australian tennis summer which potentially includes a new women’s event.

Sydney will have a new event and $50.5 million worth of upgrades to Sydney Olympic Park Tennis Centre which includes a new roof on Ken Rosewall Arena and Court 1.

NSW Minister for Tourism and Major Events Adam Marshall said he was delighted Sydney had secured the finals matches until 2022.

Minister Marshall stated “this is another coup for our State, not only for athletes and sporting fans but the wider NSW community who are set to win from the estimated $36.5 million injection into our local economy.”

Brisbane will expand its international tennis offering to include the ATP Cup and its existing WTA event.

Tennis Australia’s vision for 2020 and beyond for the Australian summer of tennis includes:

• Launching the global tennis season each year
• Even more world-class tennis in more capital cities
• More prize money and opportunities for players
• Greater international exposure for the Australian summer
• More opportunities for inspiration for the next generation of players and fans.

Tiley concluded “we want to build on the great tennis we have in Australia. We have seen fans both here and overseas embrace the offerings. Our events have been brilliantly supported by players, broadcasters, commercial partners and governments alike.

“The timing is right for expansion. We want more players rewarded, more opportunities for them, more opportunities for fans to get to see them…more global exposure for the sport.

“A major step toward achieving that vision is to deliver world-class tennis to cities across Australia which is what the ATP Cup will do. It is the next piece in a vision that will ultimately grow tennis and provide inspiration for future generations.”

Tiley made no mention of Perth's Hopman Cup, amid uncertainty that the ATP Cup will impact the future of the Perth event.

The inaugural ATP Cup will be held from 3rd to 12th January next year.

Images: Tennis action at the Ken Rosewall Arena (top) and Craig Tiley at the launch of the 2019 Australian Open last year (below).