what is atp tour

Last updated: Oct 03, 2023

What Is The ATP Tour In Tennis?

The Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) is the governing body which supervises all men’s professional tennis circuits, and   t he ATP Tour showcases the best male tennis athletes in the world at some of the most popular tennis venues.   Known for its major tournaments, including the four Grand Slam events, the ATP Tour represents the pinnacle of tennis greatness. Keep reading to learn how the ATP Tour works in tennis.

• Founded : 1990
• Number of Tournaments : 68
• Season Runs : December-December yearly
• Governing Body : Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP)
• Most Tournament Titles : Roger Federer (103 wins)
• Most ATP Finals Championships : Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic (6 wins each)

Table of Contents

Atp tour history, atp tour format, major atp tour tournaments, atp rankings.

The ATP Tour was first founded in 1990.  Prior to its formation, the many tournaments which were later incorporated into the tour existed in various forms and groups. Before 1968, only amateur competitors could enter the Grand Slam and national championships. In 1968, Open Tennis was created as the first professional tennis circuit, and in 1970, many of the Grand Slam tournaments and other major events were organized into the Tennis Grand Prix.

In 1972, the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) was officially created, and immediately began the process of consolidating and improving the sport, such as by instituting worldwide rankings.  Between 1974 and 1989, the men’s pro tennis circuit was controlled by the Men’s Tennis Council (MTC), which was formed of members from the International Tennis Federation (ITF), the ATP, and other major tournament directors.

As time passed, and the 1980s drew to an end, the pro tennis players playing in the men’s circuit began to desire a greater voice in the sport.  In 1988, ATP CEO Hamilton Jordan gave the now famous “press conference in the parking lot.”  He stated that tennis was at a crossroads and needed to fix some of the problems that were present in the sport. 

The best option available to the ATP was the formation of the ATP Tour, which was officially established in 1990. Since then, over 30 years have passed, and the ATP Tour remains the premier tennis circuit in the world, enduring a number of ups and downs, including the recent COVID-19 pandemic, but remaining strong.

There are many tournaments that make up the ATP Tour, which span a total of 31 different countries and take place in some of the world’s most well-known tennis venues.  The Tour runs yearly from December to December, and its tournaments are divided into the following categories:

• Grand Slams  - 4 Tournaments
• ATP Finals (ATP)  - 1 Tournament
• ATP Masters 1000 (ATP)  - 9 Tournaments
• ATP 500 (ATP)  - 13 Tournaments
• ATP 250 (ATP)  - 39 Tournaments
• ATP Cup (ATP)  - 1 Tournament
• Davis Cup (ITF)  - 1 Tournament*
• Olympic Games (IOC/ITF)  - 1 Tournament*
• ATP Challenger’s Tour (ATP)  - 178 Tournaments
• ITF Men’s Circuit (ITF)  - 534 Tournaments

*These tournaments do not distribute ATP Ranking points.

Some of the major tournaments on the ATP Tour, broken down by month, include, but are not limited to :

The tour comprises the ATP 1000, ATP 500, and ATP 250.  The ATP 250 is the lowest tier of men’s tournaments, and has about 40 tournaments with 250 ranking points to each champion. The ATP 500 is the fourth highest tier of tournaments, and winners are awarded 500 ranking points. The ATP 1000 is the third highest behind the grand slams and the finals, and winners are awarded 1,000 ranking points.

In 1973, the ATP started a rankings system that is still in place today. The ranking system provides fair analysis of a player’s performance as well as an objective means to determine entries into tournaments. You can also earn ATP ranking points at Grand Slam events, but they are not official ATP events.

At the end of the season, the world’s top eight qualified singles players and doubles teams qualify to compete for the final title of the season at the Nitto ATP Finals.  The event is held at Pala Alpitour in Turin, Italy, as players battle to claim the prestigious year-end No. 1 Ranking.

What does the ATP Tour stand for in tennis?

In tennis, the ATP Tour stands for the Association of Tennis Professionals Tour. Founded in 1972, the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) is the sanctioning organization of men’s professional tennis. Thus, the ATP Tour is named after its governing body.

How does the ATP Tour work in tennis?

The ATP Tour consists of 68 tournaments throughout the year, culminating in the ATP Finals.  ATP Masters 1000, ATP 500, and ATP 250 tournaments, as well as the ATP Cup are all part of the ATP Tour. Depending on the level of the tournament, the winner and top finishers receive different numbers of points. These points count toward players’ ATP Rankings and help them qualify for the ATP FInals.

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How the ATP Rankings work: Men’s tennis singles rankings explained

While the ATP Rankings have only existed for a fraction of the time that tennis has been a global sport, they are central to how the men’s game functions.

Rankings determine entry into all tournaments on the elite circuit and also dictates the seeding for events.

The ATP Rankings are the official men’s rankings for tennis and offer another front for the sport’s best to compare and compete with one another.

While the most points are available at Grand Slams and then the Masters events, rankings points are on offer across events right down to the ITF circuit level.

Being world No 1 is now the goal of thousands of youngsters setting out on their tennis journey.

Here we look at the mechanics of the ATP Rankings .

How do the ATP Rankings work

A player’s ranking is determined by their best performances across 19 singles events. *The ATP Finals is an extra event (20th) in the ranking breakdown which effectively offers bonus rankings points to those who qualify to take part.

Top players who compete at all mandatory events will have the following breakdown according to ATPTour.com:

• One (1) Nitto ATP Finals* (additional event in the ranking breakdown)
• Four (4) Grand Slams
• Eight (8) mandatory Masters 1000s
• Seven ‘Best Other’ (ATP Cup, ATP Masters 1000 Monte Carlo, ATP 500, ATP 250, Challenger or ITF events).

The rankings operate on a rolling 52-week ranking logic, where in most cases players will see their points from a previous year’s tournament fall away in the week the next edition of the event takes place, there are exceptions when events are moved in the calendar.

This logic explains references to players ‘defending their points’ where a player would need to match or better their performance from the previous season’s event in order to maintain or improve their

ATP Rankings are updated weekly on Mondays, but the organisation also tracks so-called live rankings which will update according to a player’s progress through the week.

There are currently 2007 players ranked by the ATP but those eager to avoid qualifying tournaments on the ATP Tour generally need to keep themselves in and around the top 50 players in the world.

Novak Djokovic is the player to have spent the most weeks at the top of the ATP Rankings and looks set to set incredible records through the standings in the near future.

How are players separated when they tie ATP Rankings points?

When two or more players land on the same total number of points, ties shall be broken as follows according to the ATP:

• The most total points combined from the Grand Slams, ATP Masters 1000 mandatory tournaments and Nitto ATP Finals main draws, and if still tied, then,
• The fewest events played, counting all missed Grand Slams, ATP Masters 1000 tournaments and Nitto ATP Finals they could have played – as if played, and if still tied, then,
• The highest number of points from one single tournament, then, if needed, the second highest, and so on.

What is the ATP Race to Turin

The Nitto ATP Finals are open to the top seven competitors in the ATP Race To Turin after the last week of the regular season on November 11. One current-year Grand Slam winner qualifies in eighth place if he is placed between positions eighth and twenty in the Race. If there are two Grand Slam champions from the current year who are placed between eighth and twenty in the Race, the player who is placed highest among them advances as the eighth and final qualifier, while the player who is placed lower serves as the alternate. The participant at position eight in the Race will be awarded the eighth and final spot if no current-year Grand Slam champions are positioned between positions eight and twenty.

The ATP Race to Turin will always be based on points gained in the current season and the standings will only align with the rankings themselves at the conclusion of the season.

What is the points breakdown for all tournament categories?

* ATP Finals, 1500 for undefeated Champion (200 for each round robin match win, plus 400 for a semi-final win, plus 500 for the final win)

Note: In 2023, due to all points being stripped from Wimbledon and the cancellation of the Shanghai Masters last year, players will count three Grand Slams, seven Masters 1000s and nine ‘best other’ events. At the conclusion of 2023 Wimbledon, players who chooses to compete in the Wimbledon main draw must have their points from that Grand Slam count and reduce the number of ‘best other’ events counted to eight. A player who also chooses to play the 2023 Shanghai Masters must count his 2023 Shanghai points, further reducing the number of ‘best other’ results he counts to seven.

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Djokovic wins record 7th ATP Finals title by beating Sinner in straight sets

Serbia’s Novak Djokovic kisses the trophy after winning the singles final tennis match of the ATP World Tour Finals at the Pala Alpitour, in Turin, Italy, Sunday, Nov. 19, 2023. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)

Serbia’s Novak Djokovic celebrates with the trophy after winning the singles final tennis match of the ATP World Tour Finals at the Pala Alpitour, in Turin, Italy, Sunday, Nov. 19, 2023. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)

Serbia’s Novak Djokovic, winner, left, and second placed Italy’s Jannik Sinner hold their trophies at the end of the singles final tennis match of the ATP World Tour Finals at the Pala Alpitour, in Turin, Italy, Sunday, Nov. 19, 2023. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)

Italy’s Jannik Sinner holds the second placed trophy at the end of the singles final tennis match of the ATP World Tour Finals at the Pala Alpitour, in Turin, Italy, Sunday, Nov. 19, 2023. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)

Serbia’s Novak Djokovic celebrates after winning the singles final tennis match of the ATP World Tour Finals at the Pala Alpitour, in Turin, Italy, Sunday, Nov. 19, 2023. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)

Italy’s Jannik Sinner reacts after losing a point to Serbia’s Novak Djokovic during their singles final tennis match of the ATP World Tour Finals at the Pala Alpitour, in Turin, Italy, Sunday, Nov. 19, 2023. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)

Serbia’s Novak Djokovic returns the ball to Italy’s Jannik Sinner during their singles final tennis match of the ATP World Tour Finals at the Pala Alpitour, in Turin, Italy, Sunday, Nov. 19, 2023. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)

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TURIN, Italy (AP) — Novak Djokovic ended the year just as he started it — by setting records.

The top-ranked Djokovic won a record-breaking seventh ATP Finals title on Sunday with a straight-set victory over home favorite Jannik Sinner.

Djokovic took 1 hour, 43 minutes to win 6-3, 6-3 as the Serbian continues to reach new heights at the age of 36.

He started 2023 with a record-extending 10th Australian Open title and went on to claim his 23rd Grand Slam singles trophy at the French Open, breaking Rafael Nadal’s mark. Djokovic, who lost the Wimbledon final to Carlos Alcaraz, also won the U.S. Open .

“One of the best seasons I’ve had in my life, no doubt,” Djokovic said. “To crown it with a win against a hometown hero in Jannik, who has played amazing tennis this week, is phenomenal.”

Djokovic entered Sunday’s final tied with Roger Federer on six titles at the season-ending tournament for the year’s top eight players.

And he stretched out his arms and beamed broadly after clinching his seventh when Sinner double-faulted.

The victory had echoes of the clinical way Djokovic dispatched second-ranked Carlos Alcaraz in Saturday’s semifinal encounter.

“I’m very proud of the performances these last two days against Alcaraz and Sinner, probably the best two players in the world next to me and (Daniil) Medvedev at the moment, and the way they have been playing I had to step it up,” Djokovic said.

“I had to win the matches and not wait for them to hand me the victory and that’s what I’ve done. I think I tactically played different today than I have in the group stage against Jannik, and just overall it was a phenomenal week.”

It was his fourth win over Sinner, who had recorded a first-ever victory against Djokovic in the group stage in Turin and was the first Italian to reach the final.

But Djokovic was in imperious form on Sunday and won 14 straight points from the end of the first set to the third game of the second to leave him firmly in control and subdue the Turin crowd.

Djokovic had already secured the year-end No. 1 ranking for a record-extending eighth time by winning his opening match at the ATP Finals.

After this tournament, Djokovic will become the first player to hold the No. 1 ranking for 400 weeks, with Roger Federer at 310 the only other man to eclipse the 300-week mark.

It was also only the second time in the last 15 years that a player has made the finals of all four Grand Slam tournaments and the ATP Finals. The only previous occasion was when Djokovic did it in 2015.

Sinner came into the final having won all of his matches in Turin and backed by a fervent home crowd, who had dreams of him becoming the first Italian to win the tournament in its 54-year history.

But the 22-year-old Sinner could offer little in response to a master class from Djokovic, especially in a blistering first set that lasted just 38 minutes and saw the Serbian win 20 of 22 service points. Djokovic also served up 13 aces during the match.

“Congratulations to you (Novak) for this week and not only: you started the season by winning and you ended it by winning, you won three Slams and many other tournaments,” Sinner said. “What else is there to say? You’re an inspiration not only for all those watching, but especially for the players.

“I also want to thank my team … we saw also today that I can still improve a lot but we can look at the positive things from this season. When we started the year I was one player and now I’m another. Thanks to you who have helped me understand so many things.”

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What is the definition of The ATP Tour in tennis?

The ATP Tour is a top-tier tennis tour for men, organized by the Association of Tennis Professionals. It showcases the world’s greatest players competing in prestigious tournaments, entertaining a billion global fans and inspiring the next generation of fans and players. Previously known as the ATP World Tour between January 2009 and December 2018, it is the highest level of professional tennis, followed by the ATP Challenger Tour and the ITF Men’s World Tennis Tour. The equivalent women’s organization is the WTA Tour.

Established as a global governing body for men’s professional tennis, the ATP Tour hosts a wide array of events throughout the year. These tournaments offer substantial prize money and rankings points, allowing players to establish themselves in the tennis world. Some of the most well-known events include the four Grand Slam tournaments and the season-ending ATP Finals, which feature the top eight singles players and doubles teams of the season.

The ATP Cup, another notable event, is a team competition where countries compete against each other in a unique format. Throughout the history of the tour, numerous iconic players have made their mark, showcasing their skills, determination, and sportsmanship on the global stage. Tennis enthusiasts around the world closely follow the tour to witness thrilling matches and to keep tabs on the achievements of their favorite players.

Key Takeaways

• The ATP Tour is the highest level of men’s professional tennis, with prestigious tournaments featuring the world’s best players
• Players compete for significant prize money and rankings points, with top events including the Grand Slam tournaments and ATP Finals
• The ATP Cup offers a unique team competition format, contributing to the tour’s diverse range of events and excitement for fans.

Historical Overview

Founding of atp.

The Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) was established in 1972 as a response to the growing need for a professional organization to govern men’s tennis. Since then, the ATP has played a pivotal role in the development and promotion of the sport. It was responsible for the launch of the ATP Tour, which started in 1990 as a top-tier tennis tour for men.

Key Milestones

Over the years, there have been numerous milestones in the history of the ATP Tour. Some of the key moments include:

Open Tennis Era : The beginning of the Open Era in 1968 marked a significant turning point in tennis history. Prior to this, only amateur players were allowed to compete in major championships. The adoption of “Open Tennis” allowed professionals to participate in Grand Slam tournaments and other national championships.

ATP Rankings : In 1973, the ATP introduced a computerized ranking system, which revolutionized the way players were seeded for tournaments. This ranking system has evolved over time and remains the basis for seeding in all ATP Tour events today.

ATP World Tour : In January 2009, the ATP Tour was rebranded as the ATP World Tour, highlighting its global nature and emphasizing the organization’s continual efforts to expand and improve the sport worldwide.

Nitto ATP Finals : As a celebration of the tour’s 50-year history, the Nitto ATP Finals were introduced to honor the top eight singles players and doubles teams at the end of each season. The event has gone through several name changes and format adjustments but remains an important fixture on the ATP calendar.

The ATP Tour continues to be a remarkable showcase of the world’s best male tennis athletes performing at the highest level, entertaining a global audience and inspiring the next generation of fans and players.

ATP Tour Structure

The Grand Slam events are the most prestigious tournaments in the ATP Tour, awarding 2,000 points to the winner. These tournaments include the Australian Open, Roland Garros, Wimbledon, and the US Open. Players from around the world compete in these events, showcasing the highest level of tennis.

ATP Tour Masters 1000

ATP Tour Masters 1000 tournaments are the second most prestigious events on the ATP Tour. With nine Masters 1000 tournaments held throughout the year, these events award the winner with 1,000 Pepperstone ATP Rankings points. Held in various continents, Masters 1000 events often feature top-ranked players, who compete on various surfaces such as hard, clay, and grass courts.

ATP Tour 500

The ATP Tour 500 series consists of 13 tournaments, each offering 500 rankings points to the champion. These events are held across the globe and feature a mixture of top-ranked players as well as emerging talents. ATP 500 tournaments are essential for players to accumulate points and improve their rankings, and they often serve as opportunities to gain experience competing against the best players on the ATP Tour.

ATP Tour 250

ATP Tour 250 tournaments are the final tier of events on the professional men’s tennis tour. With over 40 events held each year, they provide players with chances to earn valuable rankings points and compete against other professional athletes. Winners of these tournaments receive 250 Pepperstone ATP Rankings points and have the opportunity to improve their status on the international tennis stage.

Prize Money and Rankings

The ATP Tour, also known as the Association of Tennis Professionals Tour, is a series of men’s tennis tournaments that take place throughout the year. In these events, top players from around the world compete for both prestige and monetary rewards. This section will focus on the prize money and rankings aspect of the ATP Tour.

In the ATP Tour, prize money is distributed among the participating players based on their performance at each tournament. The total prize money is divided into various categories, including Grand Slam events, Masters 1000 events, ATP 500 events, and ATP 250 events. Generally, the higher the tier of the tournament, the greater the prize money offered to the players.

For example, in the Grand Slam events, which include the Australian Open, Roland Garros, Wimbledon, and the US Open, prize money is often in the millions of dollars range. On the other hand, Masters 1000 tournaments offer a lower sum, while ATP 500 and ATP 250 events provide relatively smaller prize amounts.

Rankings in the ATP Tour are determined by a player’s performance at various tournaments throughout the season. Players accumulate points based on their results at each event, with higher points awarded for more prestigious tournaments. The point system is used to create a ranking for each player, with the top-ranked player considered the best in the world.

Some of the well-known players in the ATP Tour prize money leaders for 2023 include Carlos Alcaraz, who earned around $7,980,434, and Novak Djokovic, with a total earning of approximately $6,563,115. Other notable names are Daniil Medvedev, amassing around $5,823,029, Jannik Sinner, with about $4,073,408, and Stefanos Tsitsipas, earning around $3,784,813.

In conclusion, the ATP Tour showcases the skills and talents of top male tennis players as they vie for prestigious titles and generous prize money. Additionally, their performance in these events also significantly impacts their position in the global rankings.

Top Player Profiles

The ATP Tour is a global tennis event featuring the best professional male tennis players worldwide. In this section, we will highlight some of the top players in the sport and their impressive accomplishments.

Novak Djokovic is a Serbian tennis player who has dominated the sport for more than a decade. He has held the No. 1 ranking in the ATP for a 390th week, making him one of the most successful tennis players in history. Among his many achievements are 24 Grand Slam titles, a record-equalling feat.

Rafael Nadal hails from Spain and is often referred to as the King of Clay due to his unprecedented success on clay courts. With 20 Grand Slam titles, Nadal is renowned for his exceptional athleticism and aggressive playing style. He has held multiple top rankings in the ATP throughout his career.

Roger Federer is considered one of the greatest tennis players of all time. The Swiss maestro has held the top spot in the ATP rankings for 310 weeks, amassing 20 Grand Slam titles in singles competition. Federer’s career is distinguished by his exceptional serve, groundstrokes, and graceful court movement.

Daniil Medvedev is a rising Russian tennis star who has quickly established himself as a force to be reckoned with on the ATP Tour. He has achieved multiple top-10 rankings and secured major wins against the sport’s very best. Known for his aggressive playing style and strong serve, Medvedev is expected to continue his rapid ascent in the tennis world.

Carlos Alcaraz is one of the brightest young prospects in men’s tennis. At just 18 years old, the Spanish player has already generated significant hype and expectations. With a powerful baseline game and stellar movement on the court, Alcaraz has all the ingredients to become a future champion in the sport.

Each of these elite tennis players brings their unique skill set, determination, and unwavering focus to the ATP Tour, making the competition an exhilarating spectacle for fans and a true showcase of world-class talent.

Major Tournaments

The ATP Tour, organized by the Association of Tennis Professionals, is a top-tier tennis tour for men. It includes various levels of tournaments, which cater to professional tennis players worldwide. The tour comprises ATP 250, ATP 500, and ATP Masters 1000 events, with the numbers denoting the Pepperstone ATP Rankings points awarded to each respective champion.

ATP 250 events are the lowest tier of tournaments on the ATP Tour. They offer modest ranking points and prize money. Some notable ATP 250 tournaments include the ASB Classic in Auckland and the Open Sud de France in Montpellier. These tournaments often showcase up-and-coming talents and seasoned professionals looking to sharpen their skills.

ATP 500 events have higher stakes, with more ranking points and larger prize money than ATP 250 tournaments. Players participating in these events are often established professionals seeking to climb up the rankings ladder. Some well-known ATP 500 tournaments are the ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament in Rotterdam, the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships, and the Hamburg European Open.

ATP Masters 1000 events are the premier tier of tournaments on the ATP Tour, aside from the Grand Slams. These tournaments feature the best of men’s tennis, with top-ranked players competing for significant ranking points and substantial prize money. Prestigious ATP Masters 1000 events include the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells and the prestigious Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters.

In addition to the ATP Tour events, the professional tennis landscape features the Grand Slam tournaments – the Australian Open, the French Open, Wimbledon, and the US Open. These prestigious events offer the most ranking points, prize money, public attention, and media coverage, making them the most sought-after titles for tennis players. Grand Slam winners receive 2,000 ranking points.

By participating in these major tournaments of varying levels, professional tennis players strive to improve their rankings, gain more exposure, and ultimately achieve success on the world stage.

The ATP Finals is an important men’s tennis tournament that serves as the year-end culmination of the ATP Tour season. Featuring only the world’s top eight qualified singles players and doubles teams, this prestigious event has a rich history and has taken place in major cities around the world since its inception in Tokyo in 1970.

Originally known as the Masters Grand Prix, the tournament was part of the Grand Prix tennis circuit and ran alongside the competing WCT Finals from 1971 to 1989. Overtime, the event’s name has evolved, and now it is known as the Nitto ATP Finals due to sponsorship reasons.

The competition consists of a round-robin format, with players divided into two groups of four. They then play three matches each against the other players in their group, with the top two players from each group progressing to the semifinals. Subsequently, the winners of the semifinals match-up in the finals to determine the champion.

The ATP Finals is played on indoor hard courts, which allows for a consistent playing environment and helps showcase players’ skills at the highest level. In 2022, the tournament took place at the Pala Alpitour in Turin, Italy, from November 13 to 20. Throughout its history, this event has witnessed legendary players such as Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic competing for the prestigious title.

The ATP Cup is an annual team competition that takes place at the beginning of the men’s tennis season. This event typically spans over 10 days and serves as a warm-up tournament before the Australian Open. The competition features teams from 24 countries, showcasing the best in international tennis talent.

The ATP Cup, organized in partnership with Tennis Australia, stands as an essential part of the season-launching ATP Tour. Participants can earn significant prize money, with up to $15 million USD (AU$22 million) in rewards available. Additionally, players have the opportunity to gain valuable ATP Rankings points, with a maximum of 750 points for singles and 250 points for doubles.

The format for the ATP Cup includes a round-robin stage, where teams are divided into groups. Each team competes against others within their group, playing both singles and doubles matches. Following the round-robin stage, the top teams advance to the knock-out phase, where elimination matches take place until a champion is crowned.

The 2022 ATP Cup will run from January 1st to 9th, marking the start of the 2022 ATP Tour season. Tennis fans can expect thrilling matches and high-quality performances as players prepare themselves for the upcoming Australian Open.

The ATP Cup demonstrates the importance of the ATP Tour in the tennis world and provides an exciting spectacle for spectators to enjoy as they witness international rivalries unfold. This team-based competition offers a unique and engaging addition to the tennis calendar, helping to create a compelling narrative for the sport’s global audience.

Our team is a diverse group of experienced journalists, passionate sports fans, and highly skilled researchers who are working to build the world’s most detailed collection of sports definitions.

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Sky Sports Tennis: How to watch, which tournaments will be shown, and more questions answered

Sky Sports' dedicated tennis channel is now live! Here is our guide to how you can enjoy over 4,000 matches from both the ATP and WTA tours; watch over 80 tournaments a year, including the US Open, exclusively live on Sky Sports Tennis

Monday 12 February 2024 06:30, UK

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The new Sky Sports Tennis channel is now live and we will bring you exclusive live coverage of tournaments from both the ATP and WTA Tours.

Here, we answer all of your questions about how you can watch over 4,000 matches from all of the tournaments we are showing this year…

Does Sky Sports have a dedicated channel for tennis?

Yes. The Sky Sports Tennis is now live on Sky and NOW after getting under way on Sunday February 11, making tennis content available all day, every day for fans.

Live coverage got going at 11am on February 11 from the Hologic WTA Tour tournament in Doha and viewers can watch their favourite players such as Coco Gauff, Ons Jabeur, Aryna Sabalenka, Naomi Osaka and Iga Swiatek. The ATP Tour Cordoba final will be shown on the channel too.

The action continues with the ATP Tour from Rotterdam, followed by an all-star line-up of Rafael Nadal, Andy Murray, Andrey Rublev and Daniil Medvedev on court in Doha from February 19.

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Which tournaments will be available?

Sky Sports will broadcast more live tennis than anywhere else, bringing over 4,000 matches from more than 80 tournaments a year on the ATP and WTA Tours, as well as full coverage of the US Open.

Coverage will include the combined Masters 1000 events taking place in Indian Wells, Miami, Madrid, Rome, and Cincinnati plus both the Nitto ATP Finals and WTA Finals.

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Will I be able to select which match I want to watch?

Yes. Viewers will be able to access multiple live court streams at the same time via the Sky Sports app on your mobile device, the Sky TV app or red button and on NOW Bonus Streams, giving access to more live matches.

How can I find out what tournaments are being shown?

Tournaments being shown live on Sky Sports Tennis , along with broadcast timings, will be available on skysports.com and the Sky Sports app. Tap here for our live tennis page. . You can also check the TV guide on Sky Q, Sky Stream, Sky Glass and NOW.

How do I find Sky Sports Tennis on my Sky box?

Sky Sports Tennis will initially be available on channel 408 from February 11, before moving exclusively to channel 407 on February 13 where it will remain.

Viewers can quickly find the channel by using the Voice Control function on the Sky Glass, Sky Stream, or Sky Q remote as well.

How do I find the additional match streams on Sky Q, Sky Stream or Sky Glass?

Matches other than the main court being broadcast will be available on Sky Q, Stream, and Glass via the Red Button.

By pressing the Red Button, viewers will be able to select which court they want to watch the action from.

How do I find the additional match streams on the Sky Sports App?

Tap the 'Watch' button at the bottom of the home page and then tap 'Live'. Scroll to the Sky Sports Tennis channel and all of the match streams will be available to select.

Action from the other courts can also be accessed by the live box on either the home page or the dedicated tennis section of the app.

Viewers will need to sign in with their Sky iD before attempting to watch the tennis streams.

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Will I be able to watch matches back on demand?

Tournament finals will be made available to watch on demand with select other matches available throughout the year.

Will highlights be available?

Yes. Select catch-up content will be available On Demand, while select highlights and clips of the best moments will be available via the Sky Sports app and website and Sky Sports ' social media channels.

What subscription do I need?

Sky Sports Tennis will be available to Sky Sports customers on the Sky platform with Complete, Action and Arena packages from February 11.

You can subscribe to Sky Sports here .

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Tennis explained: Breaking down the tennis tour schedule

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From January to December, there is no lack of action on the Hologic WTA Tour. How are the tournaments structured? How do players spend their days at these events? Here's everything you need to know. 

How do players decide which tournaments to enter?

A number of factors go into a player’s schedule on the Hologic WTA Tour.

The first consideration is whether a player’s ranking will earn them a place in either the main draw or the tournament’s qualifying draw. Other factors include rankings points and prize money on offer. With all things being relatively equal, players can then choose their destination based on which city they would prefer to play in.

How many levels of tournaments are there?

There are four levels of tournaments -- three on the WTA Tour, plus the Grand Slams.

The WTA Tour includes 250, 500 and 1000-level events -- the categories denoting the number of rankings points awarded to the champion. Grand Slams award 2,000 points to the winner.

What are the different surfaces players compete on? How is the nature of the game different on each surface?

Tour events span hard courts, clay courts and grass courts.

Hard courts are generally a more neutral surface. Clay courts, with their slower and higher bounces, lead to longer baseline rallies. Grass courts, with lower and faster bounces, often produce quicker points.

Even within each surface, court conditions can differ from tournament to tournament. You will often hear players discussing the changes in speeds as they travel from event to event.

Do some players have more success on a particular surface? 

Most players have a favored surface, some to a greater extent than others. Power hitters typically prefer hard or grass courts, while baseline grinders are often stronger on clay.

I've seen players compete indoors and outdoors. Why?

The WTA and ATP Tours offer both indoor and outdoor events, with the bulk of the indoor tournaments taking place late in the year during the winter months in the northern hemisphere.

Each player makes her own decision as to which events to prioritize, based on her preferred playing conditions.

What does a player's day look like at a tournament? What resources are available to players on site?

After arriving on site, there are a number of ways for players to spend their time before and after competition. They can eat at the player dining area, relax in the player lounge, work out in the fitness center and much more. Medical staff are also on hand for any necessary treatment.

Just like the many spectators that flock to events, many players are tennis fans, too. It is very common to see players supporting their friends and countrymen from the stands, often in the personal box of the player they are supporting.

What do players use ice baths for?

Like in any sport, recovery is a crucial part of success in tennis -- and that's where ice baths come into play. While they may be unpleasant, postmatch or post-workout ice baths can help reduce inflammation and swelling in the body, relieve sore muscles and increase blood flow, among other benefits.

How do players practice?

There are a number of ways to practice, and each player has a routine that works for them. Common activities include rallying and playing practice points, as well as hitting drills with a coach feeding balls.

A practice session during a tournament week will look much different than one during the offseason or during a training block, with the players seeking to preserve as much energy as possible during competition weeks.

How do players mingle with each other at tournaments?

Players can spend time behind the scenes and out of the heat of competition in the dining and lounge areas, where the relaxed vibe belies the high-stakes nature of the on-court action.

Do players ever spend time as tourists in different tournament cities?

Tournaments may be business trips, but that doesn’t mean there’s no time to be a tourist! Players often take advantage of the WTA Tour’s worldwide nature by exploring various cities when time allows, typically on off days before or after an event.

Who do players travel with on the road?

Each player has her own traveling team, which can change depending on the week. Aside from family members or significant others, other members of a players’ travelling party can include tennis coaches, fitness coaches, physiotherapists and mental performance specialists.

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Tennis’ Grand Slams premium tour plan: More money, equal pay, fewer tournaments

After months of playing shots off the back foot, the four Grand Slam tournaments have gone on the offensive in the battle for the future of tennis . 

In meetings with representatives of the men’s ATP and women’s WTA tours last week in London, and with players and agents this week in Madrid, leaders of the Grand Slams have presented their strongest plan yet to reform the current structure of professional tennis . It consists of a premium tour anchored in the four Grand Slams and more top-level combined events, featuring the best players from the ATP and WTA circuits.

According to a person briefed on the proposal from the Grand Slams and the ensuing meetings, who spoke on condition of anonymity to protect relationships, the details include the following:

• Doubling the prize money for the top 300 men.
• ⁠Almost quadrupling the prize money for the top 300 women.
• Using a portion of their own media rights to finance these changes.
• Equal pay , from inception, for men and women at all the events on the premium tour, instead of making women wait until 2027 to receive the same pay as men at some of the biggest tournaments.
• A schedule that includes the four Grand Slams, plus 10 other mixed top-level tournaments, with locations and dates to be determined, and a team event.
• The tour would end in time to allow for an off-season of six to eight weeks.

The plan would capitalize on the lucrative media rights of the Australian, French and U.S. Opens, alongside Wimbledon, and those of the other top Masters tournaments, to create a premium tour — various versions of which have been at the core of their previous proposals, but with little meat on the bones beyond that. ESPN’s 11-year-deal for the U.S. Open is worth almost $800 million (£647.7m), and it is estimated that media rights account for over half of the annual revenue for the All England Tennis Club, which stages Wimbledon, year in, year out.

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The Slams say the plans will vastly increase pay for men and women more quickly than the ATP and WTA can achieve, focus the season around 15 events in a premium tour and extend an off-season that has shrunk to just a few weeks for the top players.

Leaders of the Grand Slams and the tours were not immediately available for comment. 

How to fix tennis

Leaders of the ATP and the WTA, who have long viewed the collective plan from Wimbledon and the U.S., French and Australian Opens as a threat to their relevance and perhaps their existence, are not enthusiastic about this latest idea, according to the person briefed on the plan and the meetings.

Discussions between the tours and the Grand Slams have become less fraught in recent weeks, according to reporting from the BBC . While one official recently described “productive discussions” among the parties of late, this latest move could jeopardize any hint of detente that may have started to develop in the past few months.

It shows that even as the tours moved to firm up their control of the sport, the Grand Slams continued to work toward wresting it from them, something they have been pushing for since last summer.

The leaders of the two tours have long sought guarantees that they will have significant roles in governing the sport, and this iteration of a premium tour would relegate most of their tournaments to a lesser status which top players would have much less incentive to participate in. 

Now, the tours’ lack of enthusiasm might be moot, because by bringing the players into the discussion for the first time, the Grand Slams are playing a significant card.

It is their strongest move yet to curry favor with the people who have proven time and again to hold the most power in tennis — the stars of the sport, who attract the fans to buy tickets and to watch the matches at home.

They are now promising to give those players many of the things they have been seeking for years, including accelerating the closing of the gap in prize money that endures at several mixed 1000-level events and, overall, including greater financial rewards for a less demanding schedule than the current 11-month slog that incentivizes players to risk their health and wellbeing by playing in as many tournaments as possible.

The Grand Slams’ leaders have pushed for months to use existing 250 and 500-level tournaments to create a qualifying tour for players outside roughly the top 100. Top players could potentially participate in those events but not earn rankings points from them.

Most importantly, to help finance this premium tour, the Grand Slams have committed for the first time to include a portion of their media and sponsorship rights, which are the most expensive in the sport and that they have long kept largely for themselves.

For months, the Grand Slams had held back on such a commitment as they negotiated among themselves about how much of their resources they wanted to invest in an effort that would make them major financial partners in the future of the professional level of tennis, rather than independent entities that hold annual competitions — even if they are the sport’s biggest annual competitions of all.

However, during the past year, the tours have made a series of moves that the Grand Slams have viewed as a threat to their primacy, including potentially disrupting a schedule that climaxes four times a year with the Grand Slams.

Leaders of the organizations that control the Grand Slams have decided that the only way to ensure that they maintain their strength is through further investment in the overall management of the sport.

In meetings, and in a presentation at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, California, in March, top tennis leaders were still waiting for a premium tour plan that the Grand Slams had purportedly been fleshing out for months — to the extent that the proposed presentation had slipped from last November, at the ATP Finals in the Italian city of Turin. Four months later, no framework for the integration of media rights and other commercial partnerships was in place.

Now, another month on, the Slams have made their move.

The latest move comes after Andrea Gaudenzi, the leader of the ATP, pushed for the tours to invest in a plan that would bring in roughly $1billion of investment in tennis from Saudi Arabia . Most of that money would come from the sale of a new tournament, a 10th Masters 1000 event. 

A bid process for the event is ongoing, also involving Dubai and Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates, fellow Gulf state Qatar’s capital Doha and Australia, with most people involved in the process expecting the Saudis to prevail, adding the tournament to its three-year deals for the season-ending WTA Tour Finals in Riyadh, in November, and for the Next Gen Finals the following month.

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While a portion of the infusion of cash from Saudi Arabia would eventually filter down to the players, it comes with costs to the schedule that players already say is far too long, including adding another top-level, mandatory tournament, possibly at the very start of the calendar after the already-shrunken off-season. It’s also not yet clear what opportunities for additional growth would be available after the money from the additional tournament is spent.

The Grand Slams are operating on the principle that, in contrast, a premium tour that can pool its media rights and sell them as a singular, elite, exclusive package to sponsors and media companies — in the fashion of Formula 1 — could bring to the market the kind of focused tennis product that the fractured sport has been trying in vain to come up with for decades. 

The battle moves on.

(Top photo: Glyn Kirk/AFP)

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Matthew Futterman is an award-winning veteran sports journalist and the author of two books, “Running to the Edge: A Band of Misfits and the Guru Who Unlocked the Secrets of Speed” and “Players: How Sports Became a Business.”Before coming to The Athletic in 2023, he worked for The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Star-Ledger of New Jersey and The Philadelphia Inquirer. He is currently writing a book about tennis, "The Cruelest Game: Agony, Ecstasy and Near Death Experiences on the Pro Tennis Tour," to be published by Doubleday in 2026. Follow Matthew on Twitter @ mattfutterman