Proposed plans for a brand new tournament category on the ATP Tour are underway, according to the director of the Swiss Open, Roger Brennwald.
Basel, Rotterdam, Dubai and Beijing has all joined forces in a bid to present the idea of a 750 series to the ATP Tour. Under the plan, those four tournaments would become fourth most important events on the tour after the Masters 1000 series, ATP finals and grand slam events.
“We decided to present an idea to the ATP that has been shared by Dubai, Rotterdam and Beijing. The creation of a category that would be between the Masters 1000 and ATP 500.” Said Brennwald during an interview with Swiss Tennis.
Currently there are 13 ATP 500 events on the tour. Basel has been categorized as a 500 event since the implementation of the system in 2009. Prior to that, it was rated as an International Series Gold tournament.
Branwald’s vision is part of his plan to develop the Basel tournament, which celebrated its 47th edition this year. Under the proposals, the main centre court at the St. Jakobshalle arena will be expanded to allow a seating capacity of 10,000 people. Swiss authorities are hoping their developments will be enough to secure the tournament’s future. Under a current agreement, the Swiss Indoors will be a regular feature of the ATP Tour until 2018. After that, officials will need to negotiate a new contract.
The Swiss Indoors might have ended last week, but they have already secured the attendance of Stan Wawrinka in 2017, who will once again be trying to win the title for their first time in his career. Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal are also likely to be playing according to Brennwald.
Not the first tournament with big ideas
Earlier this year a duo of Masters tournaments confirmed that they hope to elevate the status of their tournaments in the future to a brand new category. The BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells has previously held meetings with the ATP about the creation of a new ‘Super Masters’ event, which will see more prize money and ranking points up for grabs. Former tournament director, Raymond Moore, hopes the new event can take place from 2019.
“It could come in 2019 but not before as right now the system is set through 2018. So the next year or two the ATP and the WTA will begin to discuss a different format, maybe new categories and we look forward to that. And maybe we’d go to a 128 draw, right now we’re a 96 draw.” He said during an interview with French journalist Carole Bouchard.
Shanghai is the other tournament hoping to be promoted to the new level. Unlike Indian Wells, the Chinese tournament just features men’s tennis.
Similar to the ATP 750 proposal, both plans are yet to be approved by the ATP. It is uncertain if these plans will go ahead or not.
The Current structure of the ATP Tour
Grand Slam tournaments
Australian Open
French Open
Wimbledon
US Open
ATP World Tour
ATP World Tour Finals
Masters 1000 series
500 series
250 series
ATP Challenger Tour
ITF events
ITF Men’s Circuit (futures)
Davis Cup
Hopman Cup
Tennis at the Olympics
