The tennis season runs for the majority of the year, and there are tennis tournaments in most months of the calendar year, with a break around the Christmas period for most professional tennis players.
Other than this break, it is pretty full on, and though there are four Grand Slam tournaments, there are also many more minor tournaments throughout the season or ATP/WTA Tour, culminating in a finals event.
In this guide, we explore some of the most prestigious tennis tournaments that happen all around the world.
The Grand Slams
Tennis has four Grand Slams, the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon, and the US Open
In tennis, there are four grand slam tennis tournaments that are considered to be the biggest and most prestigious. These draw huge viewing figures and significant prize money. They are each held every single year though the exact dates may vary, and these events provide players with a lot of ranking points.
Australian Open
Date: Held annually in January.
Location: Melbourne, Australia.
Surface: Hard courts.
The Australian Open is the first Grand Slam of the year, taking place in the Aussie summer. It attracts top players from around the world and is known for its intense heat. It features some big crowds at Melbourne Park, which has multiple courts, including the iconic Rod Laver Arena.
The tournament first took place way back in 1905, showing the prestigious history that tennis has. Some pro tennis players have called for the tournament to be moved, as it takes place pretty soon after the winter break they have, but this would mean that the tournament wasn’t in the school holidays in Australia and would impact the viewers locally.
While some of the other tournaments have seen players have spells of domination, the Australian Open changes hands often, possibly due to its gruelling nature.
French Open (Roland Garros)
Date: Usually held from late May to early June.
Location: Paris, France.
Surface: Clay courts.
The French Open is played on the clay courts of Roland Garros stadium. It is known for its slower playing surface, which requires a different set of skills compared to other tournaments.
The tournament is associated with a rich history and tradition, as described in our full post about the history of the French Open. In the men’s game, it is known for being dominated by Rafael Nadal, who has won the tournament 14 times. He has never even been taken to five sets in the final of the tournament, and truly is the king of clay.
The French Open is even older than the Australian Open, first being founded long before the tennis Open era in 1891.
Wimbledon
Date: Typically held from late June to early July.
Location: London, England.
Surface: Grass courts.
Wimbledon is the oldest major tennis tournament in the world, known for its prestige, tradition, and the fact that it is at one of the homes of tennis. It is played on the grass courts of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club. Wimbledon is renowned for its strict dress code and traditional etiquette dating back to Victorian Britain. It is famous for iconic traditions like strawberries and cream, and the Royal Box.
Roger Federer has won Wimbledon an incredible 8 times, a pretty impressive record even if it doesn’t rival what Nadal has done at the French Open. It has rarely been won by a British player, though Andy Murray did achieve this feat.
US Open
Date: Held from late August to early September.
Location: Flushing Meadows, New York, United States.
Surface: Hard courts.
Americans know how to do big sporting events, and this is no exception. The US Open is the final Grand Slam of the year. It takes place in the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.
The tournament is known for its energetic and lively atmosphere coming from the huge American crowds. The Arthur Ashe Stadium, the main court, is the largest tennis stadium in the world. The US Open features night matches and is associated with entertainment, including musical performances. In recent years, it saw the only qualifier ever to win a Grand Slam in the form of British tennis player Emma Raducanu.
All of the Grand Slams offer prize money into the millions, and also have millions of viewers all around the world. These tournaments are generally seen as the very top level of the sport.
The ATP and WTA Tours
The tennis tournaments that come in the form of “tours” are often seen as where tennis players earn their stripes.
The ATP (Association of Tennis Professionals) and WTA (Women's Tennis Association) are the governing bodies of men's and women's professional tennis, respectively. They organise and oversee the professional tennis tours, which consist of various tournaments around the world. Here's an overview of how the ATP and WTA tours work:
Tournament Structure
The structures of these tournaments was slightly revamped in 2021, and now function as described below:
ATP Tour: The ATP Tour is composed of various tournaments categorised into different tiers based on their ranking points and prize money. The most prestigious events are the Grand Slam tournaments (Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon, and US Open), followed by the ATP Tour Masters 1000, ATP Tour 500, and ATP Tour 250 events.
WTA Tour: Similar to the ATP Tour, the WTA Tour is organised into tiers. The highest-tier events are the Grand Slam tournaments, followed by WTA 1000, WTA 500, and WTA 250 tournaments. Additionally, the WTA Finals is a season-ending championship featuring the top-ranked players.
Ranking System
ATP Rankings: The ATP Rankings determine the positions of male players based on their performance in tournaments over the preceding 52 weeks. Points are awarded based on tournament category and round reached. A player's ranking determines their entry and seeding into tournaments.
WTA Rankings: The WTA Rankings operate similarly to the ATP Rankings, determining the standings of female players. Points are accumulated from tournament results within the past 52 weeks, with the ranking influencing participation and seeding in events.
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Tour Calendar
ATP Tour: The ATP Tour calendar consists of tournaments held throughout the year, starting in January and concluding with the ATP Finals in November. Players compete in various tournaments, with higher-ranked players gaining direct entry into higher-tier events.
WTA Tour: The WTA Tour follows a similar calendar structure, with tournaments taking place throughout the year. The season begins with the Australian Open and concludes with the WTA Finals. Players participate in tournaments based on their rankings and can earn points to improve their standing.
Tour Finals
ATP Tour: The ATP Finals is the year-end tournament featuring the top eight singles players and doubles teams. It is the ultimate event of the ATP season, where players compete for the prestigious title.
WTA Tour: Similarly, the WTA Finals is the season-ending championship for the top-ranked women's singles and doubles players. It showcases the best talent of the year and determines the year-end world champion.
The Tour Final events are seen by some as a fifth Grand Slam. Though they aren’t exactly the same, these tennis tournaments build to a dramatic climax in the finals, and to win after the long and arduous season of tennis is certainly an amazing achievement.
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Other Tennis Tournaments
Outside of the main tennis tours and the Grand Slams, there are some other tournaments that professionals can take part in. Tennis team tournaments add another element to the sport, meaning that players compete as part of a team, such as a nation.
The Davis Cup is one such international team event for men, organised by the International Tennis Federation (ITF). National teams compete against each other in a knockout format to determine the champion. The U.S have dominated the Davis Cup, with 32 wins in total. The Davis Cup has regional rounds held on each continent before culminating in a final, which can also be played in many locations around the world.
Fed Cup: The Fed Cup, also organised by the ITF, is the premier international team event for women. It follows a similar format to the Davis Cup, with national teams competing against each other in a knockout-style tournament.
Tennis is also part of the Olympics, and like with so many other sports, an Olympic title is seen as one of the most impressive feats in the world of tennis.
There are also a wide range of junior tournaments throughout the year, where the talent of the future is showcased. The Orange Bowl and the Eddie Herr International Junior Tennis Championships are some examples, but there are also junior events at each of the Grand Slams. The juniors tour is for those who are under the age of 18, and above this age they have to take part in the main version of the tournament.
Conclusion – The Top Tournaments in the World
The tennis season is very varied and interesting, and it is quite unique in the sense that it is a truly international sport. At the top level, tennis players do an incredible amount of travelling around the globe to participate.
There are many more tournaments at junior level, for seniors, and at local levels, but this guide shows the vast majority of the top tournaments and tennis competitions.
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