It is emerging that the ATP is seriously considering plans to create a brand new category of tournaments that will be the third highest tier in men’s tennis.
Following a Zoom meeting with players on Tuesday, two sources (Marca and ESPN) have confirmed that officials are pondering introducing a new series of ATP 750 events. The idea being that these statuses will be awarded to growing tournaments and will be based on their budgets. It is understood that this plan is in motion because there are no intentions to change or remove any of the Masters events, which is currently categorised as 1000 events. The number of each ATP tournament indicates the highest tally of ranking points available to the winner.
It is not the first time there has been talk about the possibility of 750 events. Back in 2016 it was rumoured that Basel, Rotterdam, Dubai and Beijing intended to submit a plan for their tournaments to be upgraded to the status but the initiative failed to materialise.
Current ATP Tour structure
-ATP World Tour Finals
-Masters 1000 series
-500 series
-250 series
-Challenger Tour
It is unclear as to what tournaments could be assigned the new status if gets the go ahead next year. The ATP is currently drawing up their plans for the 2021 calendar following the expected delay of the Australian Open until February. It is understood that the Tour will start during the first week of January with a 250 event in Delray Beach, America. There is also talk of Antalya in Turkey also hosting an event during the same month.
According to L’Equipe tournaments is Indian Wells, Auckland, Pune, New York and Rio de Janeiro will be either suspended or cancelled due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Although it is believed that Indian Wells are hoping to still stage their event at some stage next year as long as they are allowed to welcome at least 25% of its crowd capacity.
It is expected that the ATP will formally publish their calendar for the first quarter of the 2021 season within the next week.
The rumoured 2021 calendar
January 4 to 10: Delray Beach
January 4 to 10: ATP 250 event ( likely to be Antalya)
January 5 to 13: WTA 500 Abu Dubai
January 9 to 13: Australian Open qualifying
February 1 to 7: ATP Cup, ATP 250 in Melbourne
February 8 to 22: Australian Open
February 22 to 28: Montpellier, Cordoba, ATP 250 with a new license
March 1 to 7: Rotterdam, Buenos Aires, ATP 250 with a new license
March 8 to 14: Doha, Marseille, Santiago
March 15-21: Acapulco, Dubai
(dates and tournaments yet to be official and are subject to change)
