Sydney and Brisbane chosen to host $15 million top tennis tournament

Australian cities Sydney and Brisbane have been announced as the first two host locations for the newest team event in men’s tennis.

The ATP Cup will feature on the calendar for the first time from January 2020.

A third city will be named at a later date to jointly stage matches for the inaugural edition of the tournament that has a total prize fund of $15 million.

“With more than 100 players from 24 nations vying for $15 million in prize money and 750 ATP Ranking points, the ATP Cup will help us launch the global tennis season every January in Australia,” said Tennis Australia Chief Executive Craig Tiley at the announcement Monday.

“This is never an attempt to damage the Davis Cup, but we have got to look forward,” Chris Kermode, the ATP president told CNBC back in November. “I think they can run alongside each other. Other sports have shown you can have multiple team events. I think having them too close together is an issue, but I can see that being resolved at some point.”

The new ATP event also has major implications for the other men’s and mixed events in Australia and further afield, including the Qatar Open. Those events have traditionally been used by players to prepare for the year’s first Grand Slam in Melbourne.

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