Thailand Open Has Been Sold And Moved To China

Written by: Bob Larson Tennis on 21st November 2013

Thailand Open Has Been Sold And Moved To China

epa03887106 Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic returns to Gilles Simon of France during their semi final match at the Thailand Open tennis tournament in Bangkok, Thailand, 28 September 2013. EPA/NARONG SANGNAK |

Apart from finally appointing Chris Kermode as the new executive chairman and president, the ATP World Tour’s six man board of directors has formally killed off the 11 year-old Thailand Open and have decided to set up another event in China.

The Thailand Open has been the nation’s premier annual sporting event for the past 11 years and has seen many of the world’s top players, such as Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer and Andy Murray compete for the prestigious trophy. However the tournament is to be switched to and Shenzhen will be played from September 22-28 at the city’s Longgang Sports Center, a state-of-the-art facility with more than 20 outdoor match courts.

Therefore China becomes the first country outside the United States to host tournaments across all three ATP World Tour tournament categories. The transfer means China will play host to an ATP World Tour 250 (Shenzhen) , 500 (Beijing) and Masters 1000 (Shanghai) event across three successive weeks during the Asia swing from 2014.

For more than a decade, the ATP has played an instrumental role in the growth of tennis in China through the strategic development of its top tier of tournaments.

Alison Lee, ATP Executive Vice President, International Group, said, “China has long been a growing market for men’s professional tennis and we’re delighted to strengthen our presence in the region through the addition of this ATP World Tour 250 tournament in Shenzhen.

“The opportunities for growth in China continue to abound, and we look forward to working with the tournament organizers in delivering a first-class event in 2014. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank all those who have supported the Thailand Open in Bangkok over the past 11 years.”

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Falling spectator numbers and a general decline in local tennis interest since the 2007 retirement of Paradorn Srichaphan has killed the Thailand Open, with the ATP 250 event sold to organizers in Shanzhen, China, just across the border from Hong Kong.

The Bangkok tournament had been steadily declining over recent editions, with organizers finding it increasingly difficult to attract world-class players, Back in the day when the decade-old event came to the Thai capital amid a flurry of tennis excitement, the likes of Roger Federer, Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic all won the title. Rafael Nadal reached the 2010 semi-finals.

The tournament ends its run at the Impact arena after 11 years. “It is with mixed emotions that we say farewell to the Thailand Open,” said organizer Brian Marcar. “We have been privileged to have seen this generation’s greatest players competing here in Bangkok – Federer, Nadal, Djokovic and Murray – these guys are the very best of the best and have all played at the Thailand Open.”

The Shenzhen date will remain the same as the Bangkok one, the last week in September, with the chance to take place in 2014.

Topics: 10sballs.com, Alison Lee, Andy Murray, Atp, ATP World Tours, Chris Kermode, Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, Tennis, Tennis News, Thailand Open