The world’s best men’s and women’s tennis players will be back in Brisbane every year in a new and exciting format announced today – attracting tourists and delighting tennis fans from around the world.
The highly popular Brisbane International will continue as an elite women’s competition in 2020, alongside the inaugural ATP Cup men’s team event.
Key rounds of the outstanding new world competition will be held in Brisbane, giving the city a key spot in the international tennis season.
The new competition offers more prize money and higher ranking points which will attract higher profile men’s players in the ATP Cup, coinciding with the best female competitors at the Brisbane International.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said securing the rights to the ATP Cup and changing the Brisbane International to an elite women’s competition would ensure the world’s best tennis players continue to come to Queensland in January.
"Tennis is much loved by Queenslanders right across the state and is a strong tourism driver, nationally and internationally," the Premier said.
"The iconic Brisbane International attracts tens of thousands of visitors and injects close to $10 million into the state’s economy each year.
"The ATP Cup will have a bigger international following ensuring we continue to attract tennis fans from around the country and the world to Brisbane to cheer on their favourite players.
"On top of that, the Brisbane International will continue to host the world’s best female players at Tennyson which will be the only women’s tennis event in Australia that week which means we’ll see the best action on court right here in Brisbane."
Tourism Industry Development Minister Kate Jones said the ATP tour is changing their format from 2020 and we’ve adapted and secured ongoing and high profile tennis events in Brisbane as a result.
"We look forward to welcoming the best players on the circuit to play in Brisbane and experience everything Queensland has to offer," Ms Jones said.
Tennis Australia Head of Major Events Cameron Pearson said Queensland tennis fans had proved themselves the most passionate in the country.
"Over the last decade, with the support of the Queensland Government and Brisbane Marketing, we have seen the Brisbane International grow to become the nation’s most successful tennis tournament outside the Australian Open," Mr Pearson said.
"In 2020, the Brisbane International will continue to grow with the world’s best male tennis players beginning their season in Brisbane in the all new ATP Cup which will see the players teaming up to represent their country for a share in 750 ATP Ranking points and $15m USD in prize money."
Tennis Queensland CEO Mark Handley said the improved Brisbane International will attract new fans to the sport.
"The introduction of the ATP Cup into the Brisbane International will help us connect to a whole new generation of fans across the country and the globe by providing a new source of inspiration for young athletes to choose our sport," Mr Handley said.
"We’ve worked closely with the Queensland Government, via Tourism and Events Queensland, and Brisbane Marketing to ensure world-class men’s and women’s tennis content will continue to be played in Brisbane from 2020 featuring the same calibre of players the fans are used to seeing here every year," he said.
Brisbane Deputy Mayor Cr Adrian Schrinner said the extended festival of tennis would continue to attract domestic and international visitors to the city.
"Brisbane has a proud sporting culture and a strong reputation for hosting significant sporting events," Cr Schrinner said.
"The announcement today means the global tennis season is guaranteed to begin each year in Brisbane and the continued delivery of world-class tennis for residents and visitors."
The ATP and Tennis Australia unveiled the ATP Cup in November 2018, a new team competition to kickstart the men’s tennis season from 2020. The tournament will be played across three Australian cities over ten days in the lead up to the Australian Open and will feature teams from 24 countries.
The ATP Cup will begin on Friday 3 January 2020.
