Vietnam to Host ATP-Level Tournament

[Bachduong]

ATP Announces Historic ATP-Level Event in
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

The ATP, governing body of the men’s international pro tennis circuit, announced April 26 that Vietnam will stage an ATP-level professional men’s tennis tournament this year for the first time in history. Ho Chi Minh City was approved by the ATP Board of Directors as host city.

Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam’s economic capital and largest city (population 6.5 million), will stage the tournament indoors from September 26-October 2 at the Phu Tho Sport Center, located 20 minutes from the center of the city. Two hard courts will be constructed in the 5,000-seat main stadium. Ho Chi Minh City previously has hosted an ATP Challenger event, played this year in March at the Lan Anh Country Club.

The tournament replaces the successful Heineken Open, previously held in Shanghai. The Chinese city won the right to host the circuit-ending Tennis Masters Cup for the next three years. The Tennis Masters Cup Shanghai, which will feature the top eight singles and top eight doubles teams in the world, will be held this year from November 13-20.

“The event in Ho Chi Minh City shows the growth of tennis in Asia and the ATP is confident that the event will be successful,” said Brad Drewett, ATP Managing Director, International Group. “The people of Vietnam love tennis and they have demonstrated this by showing support to the ATP Challenger event, which has been extremely successful for a number of years.”

ATP has a strong and established foothold in the Asian region. Ho Chi Minh City now joins the AIG Japan Open Tennis Championships, first held in 1972, the China Open in Beijing, the Thailand Open in Bangkok and the Chennai Open in India. ATP also held the Tennis Masters Cup 2002 in Shanghai.