what is atp tour tennis

Last updated: Jun 06, 2024

Posted by Rookie Road Staff

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)

ATP Tour History

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.

ATP Tour Format

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.

Major ATP Tour Tournaments

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.

ATP Rankings

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.

ATP: Role, chairman, structure, all you need to know about the governing body of men’s tennis

The ATP is the governing body for men’s tennis. Here are all the informations you need to know about ATP to fully understand his history and his organisation.

You can follow the ATP on Twitter , Instagram and Facebook .

What does ATP stand for?

ATP is an acronym for the Association of Tennis Professionals.

What is ATP’s role?

The ATP administers the men’s tennis tour. It runs the ATP Tour, as well as the Challenger Tour, the second-tier tournaments, and the ATP Champions Tour, which gathers former tennis stars. It determines the schedule and attributes categories to each tournament (Masters 1000, ATP 500, ATP 250). It organizes the end of year Finals. But it does not operate Grand Slams, run by the International Tennis Federation and national organizers. They still have reserved spots in the calendar and the ATP distributes points there too.

At the players’ initiative, the ATP took charge of the tour in 1990, to replace the Men’s International Professional Tennis Council, which had held the reins from 1974 to 1989. The board was composed of three representatives from the ITF, three from the ATP and three tournament directors. But the players, frustrated by the schedule structure, a deficit in marketing and their inferior position in the MIPTC board, hoped to have more influence on the circuit’s course.

85 Top 100-members signed a letter calling for a new system. It was sealed when 24 players, including 8 from the Top 10 (except Jimmy Connors and Ivan Lendl), signed contracts to participate in the first ATP Tour in 1990. The new format was presented by ATP CEO Hamilton Jordan, former Jimmy Carter’s Chief of Staff in the White House, during a press conference on the US Open parking lot. The main principle was to give the power to players and tournament directors, who had 50-50 in this new structure.

The ATP also runs the computerized rankings, which has existed since August 1973.

Since when does the ATP exist?

The ATP was founded in September 1972. She was created during the first week of the US Open, which then took place in Forest Hills. The ATP, in preparation since mid-April, replaced the ITPA (International Tennis Players Association), with Arthur Ashe as a leader of this new beginning. Around fifty players from 16 countries subscribed 400 dollars a year to join the ATP, which was a union. Its goals were to defend players’ interests against the World Championship Tennis, MIPTC’s elder, and the ITF.

Ashe, an eventual three-time Grand Slam champion, became the first ATP vice-president in history. South African player and 1965 US Open runner-up Cliff Drysdale was named the first president. Drysdale, Jack Kramer (US player during the 40’s-50’s and founder of the computerized rankings), Donald Dell (former US player became a lawyer and first agent in pro tennis) and Jim McManus (US player still in activity at the time) are branded as the ATP founding fathers.

Who is the ATP chairman?

The ATP chairman is Andrea Gaudenzi. The 46 year old-Italian was named in October 2019 for a four year-term, which began on January 1st 2020. He was chosen unanimously by the ATP Board of Directors . Former world no.18, Gaudenzi won three titles on the tour during his pro career. His best achievement in Grand Slams was a Round of 16 appearance in the 1994 French Open. After he ended his career, Gaudenzi graduated in law from the University of Bologna and obtained an MBA at the International University of Monaco. He came back to the tennis world via the Board of ATP Media.

Gaudenzi replaced Chris Kermode, who had been in charge since January 2014. Gaudenzi has been named chairman, although Kermode was CEO. But there was a will from the player representatives to divide the power into the hands of two people, instead of just one omnipresent individual. Gaudenzi then hired Massimo Calvelli as ATP chief executive.

Brad Drewett, Etienne de Villiers, Mark Miles or Hamilton Jordan all are former ATP CEOs. The first ATP CEO was Cliff Drysdale.

What is ATP’s structure?

The ATP has a Board of Directors with seven members . It is formed as follows :

• 1 chairman (Andrea Gaudenzi)
• 3 player representatives (David Egdes, Alex Inglot, Mark Knowles) ;
• 3 tournament representatives (Gavin Forbes, Charles Smith, Herwig Straka).

The players’ representatives, one by major region (Europe, Americas, International), are chosen by the Player Council, with 13 members in it. They are divided as follows :

• 4 ranked between the 1st and the 50th place in the singles’ ATP rankings (Kevin Anderson, Rafael Nadal , John Isner, Sam Querrey) ;
• 2 ranked between the 51st and the 100th place in the singles’ ATP rankings (Yen-Hsun Lu, Vasek Pospisil) ;
• 2 ranked in the doubles’ ATP rankings Top 100 (Jurgen Melzer, Bruno Soares) ;
• 2 “At-Large”, with no ranking-restrictions (Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer ) ;
• 1 coach (Brad Stine) ;
• 1 “Alumni” (Colin Dowdeswell).

The Player Council’s president has been Novak Djokovic since August 2016. Kevin Anderson is vice-president. The members are on two year-terms.

The tournament representatives, one by major region (Europe, Americas, International), are selected by the Tournament Council, also with 13 members in it. They are divided as follows :

• 5 for Europe ;
• 4 for the Americas ;
• 4 for the rest of the world.

How does the ATP deal with the Covid-19 crisis?

The ATP waited until March 18, more than a week after Indian Wells’ postponement, to take an official stand on the tour’s status amid the coronavirus crisis. It published a first statement, along with the WTA, to announce the tours’ suspension until June 7 . The date was then pushed back to July 13, following Wimbledon’s cancellation. However, the ATP was not in contact with French Open organizers when they decided unilaterally to postpone the tournament and reschedule it in September. But Andrea Gaudenzi did not publicly blame the French Federation , as he is trying to find solutions to save as much of the 2020 season as he can.

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ATP Rankings: How they work and everything else you need to know

The ATP rankings, which is fundamental to the sport, plays a crucial role in determining the pecking order of men’s tennis based on player performance in calendar tournaments.

As a system it provides a clear picture of a player’s standing and serves as a reference point for fans and competitors alike.

In fact, the trajectory of professional players wholly depends on how well they perform in each of the tour-level tournaments that they compete in, and that is reflected in the rankings. 

ATP rankings overview

The ATP rankings are the pulse of professional men’s tennis, offering an at-a-glance view of where each player stands in the grand scheme of things. They are a numerical representation of a player’s performance and consistency on the tennis circuit. 

Whether you’re a fan, a journalist or an agent, these rankings provide a transparent view of who’s hot and who’s not. It’s not just about bragging rights; it’s about securing favourable tournament draws, attracting sponsorship deals, and earning a spot in prestigious tournaments such as the year-end ATP Finals. 

The rankings are instrumental in shaping the trajectory of a player’s career. A higher ranking means direct entry into the high calibre tournaments, sparing players the grind of qualification rounds. Conversely, lower-ranked players often face a tougher path to glory whilst battling for those breakthrough and redemption moments. 

Competitors are tracked and ranked over a 52-week period, ensuring that a player’s standing can easily change rapidly. This adds excitement and unpredictability to the world of tennis, as players jockey for position week in and week out. 

How do the ATP rankings work?

At its core, the ATP ranking system operates on a points-based model. Points are awarded based on a player’s performance in various tournaments on tour, with the category of the tournament determining the points at stake. The higher the tournament’s category, the more points are on offer, making Grand Slam events such as Wimbledon the most lucrative. 

Points allocation

Players earn points not just for their tournament victories but for their performance in each round. The winner typically takes home the lion’s share, but even those who reach the latter stages receive substantial points. 

The following points are awarded for the different tiers of tournaments on the ATP Tour.

* Note – the 1500 points listed on offer for the ATP Finals is for an undefeated champion. During the event, 200 points are awarded for every win in the round robin phase, 400 for a semi-final win and 500 for winning the final.

Ranking period 

The 52-week rolling period is a continuous time frame used for ranking calculations, ensuring that a player’s ranking is reflective of their recent form. As each week passes, the points earned in a tournament a year prior are removed from a player’s calculation.   

Replacement and loss of points 

When a player participates in a new tournament and earns points, those points replace the equivalent points earned in that tournament from the previous year. This replacement mechanism allows players to maintain their ranking by consistently performing well in current tournaments. 

390 – Novak Djokovic is now the first player with 390 week at the No. 1 in the World in both ATP (since 1973) and WTA (since 1975) Rankings. Legend. @atptour @ATPMediaInfo pic.twitter.com/eRPPzpww1A — OptaAce (@OptaAce) September 11, 2023

Let’s take Italian Lorenzo Musetti as an example. The 21-year-old reached the fourth round of this year’s French Open but lost in the first round in 2022. Due to the fact that he made it further into the competition than in the prior year, gaining more points, his points calculation increased following this year’s edition of the tournament. 

However, if a player fails to perform as well in a tournament compared to the previous year, they lose ranking points. Players often face the challenge of “defending” points in tournaments where they had a strong showing in the prior year. If a player fails to defend those points they will see a reduction in their ranking points. 

This year’s US Open springs to mind, with defending champion Carlos Alcaraz looking to defend his points, whilst all Novak Djokovic had to do to regain the top spot was win one match as he didn’t compete in the 2022 tournament. Ultimately, the Spaniard was not able to defend his title and therefore his ranking points total suffered a hit, with Djokovic reclaiming the no.1 spot. 

Admissible tournaments 

To counteract any potential ranking manipulation by players participating in an excessive number of smaller tournaments to gain points, a limit of 19 tournaments per year is imposed to contribute to a player’s ranking. 

The more significant and prestigious tournaments fall under the category of ‘mandatory’ entries. For instance, if a player were to be eliminated in the first round of a Grand Slam event, they would not be able to exclude it from their ranking calculation in favour of an ATP 250 event that may have yielded more points. 

A player’s ranking is thus calculated on their best performances in 19 singles tournaments over the ranking period: 

• 4 Grand Slams 
• 8 Masters 1000s
• 7 ‘Best Other’ performances

It is important to note that the above count excludes the ATP Finals, which is regarded as an additional opportunity for players to accumulate ranking points.

You’ll find previews and news about most ATP Tournaments in Tennishead’s dedicated ‘Tournament’ section

How do players qualify for the ATP Finals?

The ATP Finals is the prestigious tournament which draws a curtain on the men’s tour each year. Serving as the ultimate showdown, it gathers the world’s top eight singles players and doubles teams to compete for the title of ATP Finals champion. 

Unlike the usual ATP ranking system, which takes into account points from tournaments within the past year, qualification for the Finals is solely based on a player’s performance within that calendar year. This makes it a hyper-focused assessment of who has had the best season. 

Even though you yourself can’t qualify to play in an ATP tournament you can definitely attend any tournament as a fan and we regularly give away incredible packages to attend all the biggest tournaments which you’ll find in Tennishead’s dedicated ‘Competitions’ section

ATP rankings history 

The concept of a unified ranking system for professional tennis players emerged as a response to the sport’s growing popularity and the need for a standardised method to evaluate players’ performances. 

In 1973, the ATP introduced the rankings, which aimed to provide a fair and transparent way to assess these performances across various tournaments and playing surfaces. 

Initially, the system was simple, giving players points based on their tournament performance, with more prestigious events offering higher points. These rankings were updated on a monthly basis. 

Over the years, the ranking system has undergone several refinements to adapt to the evolving landscape of men’s tennis. Some notable developments include weekly updates, an emphasis on the 52-week rolling system and an evolution of the points allocation system.

About the Author / Jerome Coombe

Jerome Coombe, Tennishead Writer, discovered his love for tennis journalism whilst studying languages and playing competitive tennis. He has a vast knowledge of tennis and strives to shed a light on all corners of the sport.

Home » What is ATP and WTP in tennis?

What is ATP and WTP in tennis?

What is atp and wtp in tennis.

Tennis is a sport that has been around for centuries. It is popular among both professional and recreational players, and this is due in large part to the fact that it is an exciting and challenging game.

The ATP and WTP are two of the main governing bodies of world tennis. They are responsible for governing professional tournaments, as well as setting the rules and regulations for the sport.

The ATP (Association of Tennis Professionals)

The ATP is the governing body for men’s professional tennis. It is composed of over 2000 professional players from over 80 countries around the world. It is responsible for organizing the ATP World Tour, which is the highest level of men’s professional tennis. The ATP is also responsible for setting the rules for professional tournaments, as well as providing financial support for players and coaches.

The WTP (Women’s Tennis Association)

The WTP is the governing body for women’s professional tennis. It is composed of over 2000 professional players from over 80 countries around the world. It is responsible for organizing the WTA Tour, which is the highest level of women’s professional tennis. The WTP is also responsible for setting the rules for professional tournaments, as well as providing financial support for players and coaches.

The ATP and WTP Tours

The ATP and WTP Tours are the two main professional tennis tours in the world. The ATP Tour is composed of over 60 tournaments held all over the world, while the WTA Tour is composed of over 50 tournaments held in different locations. Each tour consists of different levels of tournaments, ranging from Grand Slams to Challenger tournaments.

ATP and WTP Rankings

The ATP and WTP rankings are the official rankings for professional tennis players. The rankings are based on a player’s performance in professional tournaments and are updated every week. The rankings are used to determine seedings for tournaments, as well as to determine which players are eligible for certain tournaments.

ATP and WTP Events

The ATP and WTP organize a variety of different events throughout the year. These include the Grand Slam tournaments, which are the biggest events of the year, as well as the ATP Finals and the WTA Finals. There are also Masters Series tournaments, which are the highest level of non-Grand Slam tournaments, as well as Challenger tournaments, which are lower-level tournaments.

ATP and WTP Points System

The ATP and WTP use a points system to determine a player’s ranking. Points are awarded for each match a player wins, and the points are then added up to determine a player’s ranking. The points system is used to determine seedings for tournaments and to determine who is eligible for certain tournaments.

ATP and WTP Rules and Regulations

The ATP and WTP have a set of rules and regulations that all professional tennis players must abide by. These rules cover a variety of topics, including conduct on and off the court, as well as rules regarding the use of equipment. The rules and regulations are designed to ensure that professional tennis is played in a fair and competitive manner.

ATP and WTP Player Development and Support

The ATP and WTP provide a variety of support and development programs for professional tennis players. These programs include financial aid for players, as well as coaching and medical support. The ATP and WTP also provide educational and professional development programs for players, which are designed to help them reach their full potential as professional athletes.

ATP and WTP Events for Fans

The ATP and WTP organize a variety of events for fans throughout the year. These events include tournaments, exhibitions, and other events, such as the ATP and WTA Player Awards. These events provide fans with a chance to see some of the best players in the world compete, as well as to meet their favorite players and get autographs.

The ATP and WTP are two of the main governing bodies of world tennis. They are responsible for organizing professional tournaments, setting the rules and regulations for the sport, and providing financial and development support for players. They also organize events for fans throughout the year, which provide a chance to see some of the best players in the world compete.

Tennis is a sport that has been around for centuries and continues to grow in popularity. By understanding what the ATP and WTP are, as well as their roles in governing the sport, we can gain a better appreciation for the sport and the professional players who make it so exciting.

What Does ATP Stand For in Tennis – All You Need To Know

If you are a tennis player or a tennis fan, the acronym ATP is a term you commonly hear in the sport or read about in the game.  Like most sports, there is a governing body in place to not only maintain the standards and integrity of the sport but also to think about the future growth of this great sport.

ATP stands for the ‘Association of Tennis Professionals’. It is a global organization and the governing body of the men and their professional tennis tour, and it is essential in shaping and promoting the sport for professional tennis players and fans. In this blog post, we will discuss the history of the ATP, its structure, the future of the ATP, and how it affects the sport of tennis .

The top players in the ATP rankings are eligible to participate in the ATP Masters, Grand Slams (French Open, US Open, Wimbledon, Australian Open), and the ATP World Tour Finals (currently known as the Nitto ATP Finals), where they can compete for significant prize money. To qualify for these prestigious tennis tournaments, players need to maintain a high player ranking or win a qualifying tournament.

The ATP is broadly respected and valued by players and other tennis organizations for its contribution to the sport. Players appreciate the ATP for its efforts in securing fair compensation and maintaining high standards for tournament conditions.

It’s also admired for its transparency in player rankings, which are based on a clear point system. Other tennis bodies, including the International Tennis Federation and Women’s Tennis Association, view the ATP as a crucial partner in the global promotion and development of tennis. They work collaboratively with the ATP on many initiatives, underscoring the organization’s importance in the tennis world.

Below we dive deeper into the history of the ATP and its future position in the world of tennis.

History of the ATP

The ATP was founded in September 1972 by Donald Dell, Jack Kramer, and Cliff Drysdale. Their motivation was to protect the interests of male professional tennis players, who were often exploited in the existing system which provided little support or structure for players’ interests.

They sought to create a fair and equitable structure that would offer players better compensation, improved tournament conditions, and a more significant say in the future of the sport they loved.

 From its humble beginnings, the ATP has grown to become the primary governing body of men’s professional tennis. It manages the ATP Tour, which includes 64 tournaments in 30 countries around the world. The ATP has shaped the course of men’s tennis and influenced the sport as a whole. It has established itself as a pivotal organization in the world of tennis, providing a roadmap for player’s official ranking, tournament structures, and the overall development of the sport. It has also helped support some amazing players to the top including Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Arthur Ashe, Andy Murray and many others.

What is the Structure of the ATP?

The ATP is currently governed by a Board of Directors, which consists of the ATP Executive Chairman & President, three Tournament Representatives, and three Player Representatives.

As of 2022, the role of ATP Chairman is held by Andrea Gaudenzi, a former professional tennis player from Italy. His role, along with the Board of Directors, involves making decisions on issues such as rule changes, tournament scheduling, and player welfare.

The Players Council as of 2023 includes the following people and structure (note how inclusive of all parts of the game it is);

1-50 Singles:  Andrey Rublev (joined in 2022) 1-50 Singles:  Grigor Dimitrov (joined in 2022) 51-100 Singles:  Pedro Martinez 51-100 Singles:  Bernabe Zapata Miralles 1-25 Doubles:  Wesley Koolhof 1-75 Doubles:  Harri Heliovaara At-Large:  Matthew Ebden At-Large:  Pedro Cachin Coach:  Federico Ricci Alumni:  Nicolas Pereira

The Board works closely with the Player Council, which is directly elected by the players and includes some of the top-ranked names in the sport. Through this comprehensive structure, the ATP ensures a balanced representation of interests, as well as a democratic decision-making process.

What Does The ATP Cover?

The ATP Tour encompasses a range of events in men’s professional tennis, including four Grand Slam tournaments, the ATP Tour Masters 1000, the ATP Cup, the ATP Tour 500 series, and the ATP Tour 250 series. These ATP Tournaments attract the world’s top players and offer significant ranking points and prize money.

In addition to these, the ATP Challenger Tour acts as a second-tier circuit offering a stepping stone for players aiming to break into the top echelons of the sport. The Challenger Tour is made up of 150 tournaments across 40 countries and provides up-and-coming players the opportunity to gain experience and improve their ATP Rankings.

Also, there’s the ITF Men’s World Tennis Tour, which serves as a platform for aspiring professionals to transition from the junior circuit to the higher levels of professional tennis. These events are essential in nurturing the growth of future tennis stars.

What is the WTA?

The Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) Tour is the equivalent women’s tour to the ATP. The WTA tour is responsible for organizing and promoting tennis tournaments for professional women’s tennis players worldwide. The WTA rankings is the official rankings system for women’s professional tennis players, which are used to determine tournament seedings and direct acceptance. The ranking system based on the number of points players earn based on their best results at WTA tennis tournaments over the previous 52 weeks. The women’s game is closely aligned to the men’s with many tournaments happening at the same venues.

So what is the PPTA?

It can be confusing with all the acronyms! The Professional Tennis Players Association (PPTA) is a new organization set up by Novak Djokovic, one of the top-ranked players in men’s tennis. The primary objective of the PPTA is to protect and advocate for the rights of professional tennis players.  It is there to act more as a union for tennis players, in particular, Novak has been very vocal on the lack of support and prize money for players who are lower ranked.

The group voices concerns over players’ welfare and working conditions, ensuring fair distribution of prize money, and giving players more say in decision-making processes that directly affect their professional lives. Djokovic’s initiative seeks to establish a union-like platform that amplifies the voices of players, ensuring their needs and concerns are not overlooked by the governing bodies of tennis.

It has not been an easy relationship with the ATP since its inception.  The ATP passed a rule stating that no board member could also be a board member of the PPTA at the same time.  This has created a divide between the two organizations, even though on paper the two groups should work in tandem.  Let’s hope that these two find a natural point to work together for the greater good of the game.

Final Thoughts:

In conclusion, we believe the ATP has played an essential role in shaping and promoting the sport for professional tennis players and fans worldwide. The ATP ranking system is used to determine tournament seedings and direct acceptance of players in ATP Masters and Grand Slam events and it continues to act as a body to support the entire game.

The future of the ATP , like many sports, is filled with many challenges as tennis tries to adapt to the new changes in a world where shorter format tennis is starting to appear on the scene and players increasingly want more say in matters.

Tennis has always had competitors for its position as leading racket sports and in the last few years it has two new more in the form of Pickleball and Padel tennis.  Both these formats have had a huge increase of participants in the last few years, with courts being built everywhere (in some instances where tennis courts would have been built).  How the ATP makes sure tennis is relevant in an increasingly crowded and complex world is crucial

Finally, the WTA is the Women’s Tennis Association, which organizes and promotes tennis tournaments for women’s professional tennis players worldwide. The ATP and WTA are significant organizations in the sport of tennis, and their structure and ranking systems play an essential role for players to become the best they can be by having access to the biggest tournaments and significant prize money.

There is talk of them joining forces to create a stronger, unified union to better the sport and also fend off potential rival tours being created as has been witnessed in other sports.  Whether this happens remains to be seen!

The ATP is certainly not perfect and does have its critics (one of the loudest being Novak) but it is hard to look past where the men’s game is today and this would not have been possible without the support and vision from the ATP.

David is the founder and chief writer at Tennis Pursuits. A tennis fanatic, David has extensive experience of the game and has reviewed 100s of products to date. He is passionate about helping others on their tennis journey.

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Tennis explained: Breaking down everything you need to know about the tour

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New to the game of tennis? Our Tennis Explained series will quickly bring you up to speed with all you need to know to fully enjoy the sport. We start here with the basics of the game itself.

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. 

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Learn the game

How is a game scored within a match?

Don’t be alarmed when, after one point, a player leads 15/0. It’s not as big a lead as it sounds.

Within a match, each individual game is played first to four points, win by two. But rather than counting points as 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, the scoring system uses Love, 15, 30, 40, Game.

The server’s score is always first. For example, if the server has won two points and the returner has earned one, the score would be 30/15.

If both players are tied at 40/40, the score is called “deuce,” and a player must win two points in a row to claim the game. The player who wins the “deuce” point earns the “advantage” and then has an opportunity to win the next point and close out the game -- or lose it and face another deuce.

How many games does it take to win a set?

A set is played to six games, win by two. If a set is knotted at 6-6, a tiebreak is played.

How does a tiebreak work?

A tiebreak is played to seven points, win by two. The players alternate serving, with one player beginning the tie-break by serving one point, followed by two serves each the rest of the way.

• Breaking down the surfaces
• Breaking down the schedule
• How to keep score
• Keep the little yellow ball inside the white lines
• How to make it on tour

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