Teams event revamps the summer of tennis

The ATP Tour and Tennis Australia have teamed up to host a 24-nation teams event carrying $22 million in prizemoney.

Nick Kyrgios, right, and other players at the launch of the teams event yesterday

A decision on whether Perth or Adelaide becomes a host city of the ATP Cup, the new teams tournament that will put Sydney back on the map as a global tennis power, is likely to be finalised by the time new Australian Open champions are crowned in Melbourne later this month.

A drastic revamp of the Australian summer of tennis was confirmed yesterday when the ATP Tour and Tennis Australia announced their partnership in a 24-nation teams event, to be played in three cities across the country over 10 days, carrying $22 million in prizemoney.

The prizemoney, along with the capacity to earn up to 750 ranking points — about the equivalent of reaching a grand slam semi-final — should ensure the world’s best male players are involved. Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer are among the dozens of elite players supportive of the new event.

As the 20-time grand slam champion Federer said in a recorded message, “It’s an amazing kick-off to the summer of tennis down in Australia”.

As reported by The Australian, the ATP Cup will cause a significant reshaping of the schedule. The future of the popular Hopman Cup mixed teams event held in Perth remains in doubt, while there will be changes to the Brisbane and Sydney Internationals.

TA holds a contract with the West Australian government to host the Hopman Cup in Perth until 2022, though negotiations are ongoing. Memorial Drive in Adelaide is also under consideration to host round-robin games in the ATP Cup over six days.

Hopman Cup tournament director Paul Kilderry yesterday said, “We should know more in the next few weeks” and “We want to do what’s best for Perth”.

Sydney will host one group of eight nations in the round-robin format. The NSW capital will also host the quarter-finals onward in an event that runs from January 3 to 12 and will become the biggest tournament outside the four grand slam events.

The criteria for entry will rely on the world ranking of the number one singles player from each nation after the US Open in September. Eight teams will progress from the round-robin stage to compete in Sydney in the knockout phase.

Up to five players can represent their nation in ties comprising two singles and one doubles, with the ATP determined to ensure the latter discipline was part of the revived Cup, last played in Dusseldorf in 2012.

The $50 million investment that will put a roof over Sydney’s Ken Rosewell Arena, announced last Friday, as well as other improvements to the Homebush site, feature in the plan that will see Sydney host an elite tournament certain to draw global interest.

NSW Tourism and Major Events Minister Adam Marshall predicted the ATP Cup would draw 130,000 fans and inject $37 million into the state’s economy.

It remains possible a separate women’s singles event will continue in Sydney in the week preceding the Australian Open. Brisbane is also set to benefit from the world’s best men and women staying for longer in the Queensland capital in an extended festival of tennis.

Tennis Australia chief executive Craig Tiley said conversations were ongoing with the Women’s Tennis Association regarding tournaments and other concepts, though next year’s calendar events would run in a similar manner to the current format.

“The timing is right for expansion,” he said. “We want more players rewarded, more opportunities for them, more opportunities for fans to get to see them (and) more global exposure for the sport.

“A major step towards 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.”

An Australian team could draw on talent including Alex de Minaur, Nick Kyrgios, John Millman, Thanasi Kokkinakis, Matt Ebden and doubles specialist John Peers.

Kyrgios, who was at the launch in Sydney, said: “I think it is a pretty special move for Australian tennis. We have a lot of players coming through. Alex is playing unbelievable tennis and we have great depth. It is really exciting. (The event) gives me goosebumps.”