The ATP infographic for the launch of the new calendar
The ATP presented a well-defined draft for the 2024 season, not many changes compared to the current one: As always, it starts in January with the United Cup and ends in November with the ATP Finals at the fourth edition in Turin. The venue for the NextGen ATP Finals has yet to be confirmed, while the week for the Paris Olympic tournament, starting July 27, is the 31st, coinciding with the 500th in Washington. There will be 5 Masters 1000 held over 12 days: Indian Wells, Miami, Madrid, Rome and Shanghai.
Besides the finals, the only tournament in Italy at the moment is the Masters 1000 in Rome. A possible place for another event in the beautiful country could arrive in the autumn in week 42 (from October 14), since the 250 from Moscow is still “suspended” due to the well-known events of the war, or in April (week no. 16, from April 15) as the Banja Luka 250 event has not been confirmed. This spring week, in addition to the 500m in Barcelona and the 250m in Munich, another 250m on clay will be played in Europe, to be determined. Opportunities for Naples or Florence after the 2022 experience?
A total of 63 tournaments are planned in 29 different countries. Here are the main changes and news of 2024 compared to the current season:
– In January, in the first week of the tournament, alongside the United Cup and the 250 in Pune, another 250 in Australia are also plannedwith a seat to be determined
– The Abierto de Tenis Mifel in Los Cabos (Mexico) will be moved from July to February 19th, the week before the 500 in Acapulco. It will be held in the same week as the Doha 250m and Rio de Janeiro 500m
– Banja Luka will not be playedthe April 14 box remains free for an ATP 250 on clay in Europe
– Six grass tournaments ahead of Wimbledon confirmedfollowed by the classic appointment in Newport
– In September, the Asia leg returns to the “classic” arrangement: In week 38, in addition to the Laver Cup (Berlin), two 250m tournaments will be held, one in Zhuhai and the other in Chengdu, followed by the 500m tournaments in Beijing and Tokyo (which will return at the same time). the event in the Chinese capital ) and then the Shanghai Masters 1000 over 12 days
– The tournament in Tel Aviv is not confirmed, this year on November 5 just before the final; will be played in Stockholm on November 3, along with Metz (two ATP 250)
According to Andrea Gaudenzi, President of the ATP: “There are few sports that fascinate fans all year round and in as many global markets as tennis. We do our best to offer both fans and players the best possible experience on and off the pitch. From the United Cup in Australia to the Nitto ATP Finals in Turin, 2024 will be another intense and exciting season on the ATP Tour.”
Last touch for the Davis Cup. Last fall, the ATP and ITF announced a strong partnership to strengthen the historic team competition of nations with joint actions to bring prestige and visibility to the tournament. Then came the sensational breach of contract between the ITF and Kosmos, with this year’s edition being organized entirely by the ITF along the lines of the 2022 edition as immediate changes were not possible. An extension of the event has been announced, but looking at the ATP calendar, there is no news in sight, at least in terms of the number of slots available: Week #5 after the Australian Open (along with the 250 of Montpellier) for the qualifying rounds; then we go in week 37 (after the US Open) for the group stage of the finals and the finals in week 47 after the ATP Finals in Turin. Judging by the place that remains Davis in the 2024 vintage, the desire to “revitalize” the event by giving it more visibility and importance seems already archived…
Marco Mazzoni
