The ATP has confirmed a series of new measures will be implemented on the Challenger tour from 2019 in a bid to enhance the ‘player pathway.’
After an extensive review carried out by the governing body of men’s tennis, the draw size of tournaments on the Challenger tour will be increased from 32 to 48. The increase is set to result in a rise of roughly 2400 professional job opportunities. All tournaments will also be required to provide hotel accommodation for all of the players involved in the main draws. An initiative that the ATP estimates will result in an additional 20,000 rooms being provided to players throughout the season.
The reason for the increase in the tournament size is so that more players will be eligible to receive prize money. Next year the highest-level tournament will have a prize pool of US$162,480. In the past men’s tennis has been criticised for the disparity in tournament earnings between players. In the year-to-date prize money rankings, Rafael Nadal leads with earnings of $6,717,922. This is almost 20 times more than the 100th highest ranked player (Ernests Gulbis has earned $351,895 so far in 2018).
“These are significant changes that will lead to a real enhancement of the ATP Challenger Tour, particularly as we seek to provide more earning opportunities for players at the entry level into men’s professional tennis.” ATP President Chris Kermode said in a statement.
“A big priority for us is to ensure we have a healthy player pathway and that we improve the viability of a career in men’s professional tennis. These changes represent an important step in the right direction for our sport.”
Similar to the world tour, tournaments will be split into five categories (ATP Challenger 70, 80, 95, 110 and 125). Each category represents how many ranking points will be up for grabs. For example an ATP Challenger 70 event means that there will be a maximum of 70 ranking points available to the winner.
Fans will also see a rise in online streaming of the tournaments. The ATP has said that they ‘intend’ to show all main draw matches on the Challenger Tour. Doubling the current number of matches that are currently broadcast online. Streaming platform Livestream.com broadcasts all events around the world.
The changes come ahead of 2020 when ranking points will no longer be awarded at any event that is ranked lower than a Challenger. The ITF will introduce a transition tour that seeks to create an easier pathway between junior and professional competitions. Their goal is to reduce the number of professionally ranked players from roughly 3000 to 750.
