Tomas Berdych.net

October 12 - 18, 2009 Shanghai ATP Masters 1000 To Welcome World's Best

In 2009, Shanghai will join eight other cities in hosting an ATP World Tour Masters 1000 event, the new top tier of tournaments on the ATP World Tour. The Shanghai Masters 1000 is set to feature the world's best in a 56-player draw for singles, and will be the finale to a new three-week Asian swing of the ATP World Tour.

The 9 ATP Masters 1000 Tournaments

Tourmanent	Country	City	Venue	Began	Surface
Indian Wells	US	Indian Wells	Indian Wells Tennis Garden	1987	Hard
Miami	US	Miami	Tennis Garden at Crandon Park	1987	Hard
Monte Carlo	Monaco	Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, France	Monte Carlo Country Club	1897	Clay
Rome	Italy	Rome	Foro Italico	1930	Clay
Madrid	Spain	Madrid	Madrid Arena	2002	Clay
Canada	Canada	Montreal / Toronto	Stade Uniprix / Rexall Centre	1881	Hard
Cincinnati	US	Cincinnati	Linder Family Tennis Center	1968	Hard
Shanghai	China	Shanghai	Qi Zhong Tennis Center	2009	Hard
Paris	France	Paris	Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy	1968	Hard

 

The ATP World Tour Masters 1000 is a series of 8+1 tennis tournaments (The former AMS Monte Carlo still share the same ranking point allocation privilege but without mandatory player participation) that are part of the ATP Tour, constituting the most prestigious tournaments in men's tennis after the four Grand Slam events. And all top 20 players are obligated to compete in these 8 tournaments, unless he can subject a medical certificate of injury or illness issued by an ATP authorized independent medical institution. As the only stop for the ATP Masters 1000 in Asia, Shanghai will see the world's top 56 players competing for a total of 4 million dollars in prize money and the first Masters trophy awarded in the region. There will be 56 competitors in the singles draw and 24 teams in doubles, featuring 99 great matches.

 

About the Shanghai ATP Masters 1000

Since 2002, Shanghai has hosted the Tennis Masters Cup five times, captivating the world with excellent organization, splendid matches and thoughtful service. On 16 April, 2007, ATP and Shanghai sealed the deal that gives Shanghai the ownership of the only Masters 1000 tournament outside of Europe and North America.

From 10 Oct. to 18 Oct. 2009, Shanghai will host the first session this tournament at the spectacular Qi Zhong Tennis Center. More than 100 tennis professionals will present 99 matches totally in 9 days (1-day qualifying). Being the only Masters event in Asia, the Shanghai ATP Masters 1000 is destined to stand out as the flagship event on the new Asia Swing, as set out by ATP in 2009, including Bangkok (Thailand), Beijing, Tokyo (Japan), and Shanghai.