Whether you’re a tennis fan or not, there are some major tennis tournaments that you can’t afford to miss. Fortunately, we’ve put together a list of the top 7 that you must attend.
One of the oldest championships in the world, the US Open began in 1881 as the national men’s singles and doubles competition. The atmosphere is exemplary, and you can expect an incredible experience like no other.
- BNP Paribas Open
The BNP Paribas Open is one of the country’s premier annual men’s and women’s tennis tournaments. Taking place each March on the hard courts of Indian Wells Tennis Garden in Southern California, the event is classified as an ATP World Tour Masters 1000 and WTA Premier event.
The tournament takes place over two weeks and draws in thousands of spectators each year from around the world. The BNP Paribas Open routinely sets the bar for tennis tournaments across the globe and is a must-attend event for avid fans of the sport.
- Indian Wells
Every year, tennis fans flock to Indian Wells for the annual tournament. Known as the unofficial ‘fifth Grand Slam’, it’s one of the biggest events in tennis.
Often regarded as the world’s top men’s and women’s event, it will run from March 6-19 this year. ATP and WTA players will compete for the prize money.
While singles competition gets the headlines, doubles has a loyal following at Indian Wells. It’s widely considered more fun than singles, owing to its superior speed and aggressive net play.
- US Open
The US Open is a two-week sports and entertainment extravaganza in Flushing Meadows, New York. The final of the Grand Slam of tennis (the others being Australian, French and Wimbledon), it draws top-level players and enthralling action to its stage.
The tournament began in 1881 as a men’s only championship, then moved to a women’s version in 1968. It is still one of the oldest tennis championships in the world, with many players claiming it to be their first major.
The tournament has also become the first Grand Slam tournament to implement instant replay review of calls. The system, called Hawk-Eye, is available on the stadium courts, Arthur Ashe and Louis Armstrong, and enables a player to challenge a call in both sets or during a tiebreak, but does not penalize him or her if it turns out to be wrong.
- French Open
The French Open, also known as Roland-Garros, is one of the most prestigious tennis tournaments in the world. It is held over two weeks in late May at the Stade Roland Garros in Paris, France.
It began as a championship limited to members of French clubs in 1891. Women were ingratiated into the event in 1897, and in 1925 it became an international tournament with competitors from all over the world.
The tournament is held on clay courts, which slow down the ball and produce a higher bounce than grass or hard courts. The French Open is the only Grand Slam played on clay courts.
- ATP Finals
The ATP Finals is the season-ending event on the ATP tour, and it features the top eight singles players and doubles teams. It is one of the most important events on the ATP calendar, with winners awarded up to 1500 points.
The draw for the ATP Finals was released on Thursday, and the eight men in the draw include Australian Open and French Open champion Rafael Nadal, French Open and US Open runner-up Casper Ruud, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Daniil Medvedev, Felix Auger-Aliassime, Andrey Rublev and Taylor Fritz.
The doubles draws were also released and the top seeds are Wesley Koolhof and Neal Skupski in the Green Group, alongside Nikola Mektic/Mate Pavic, Ivan Dodig/Austin Krajicek, Lloyd Glasspool/Harri Heliovaara and Thanasi Kokkinakis/Nick Kyrgios.
- Australian Open
If you are a tennis fan then the Australian Open is one of the biggest tournaments to go for. It is held in January every year and is a great way to start off the tennis season.
It is a mega tennis event that has been around for years and was first started in 1905. It was held in different countries and cities until it made its home in Melbourne.
The Australian Open is a Grand Slam championship that includes singles, doubles and juniors competitions. The prize money at this championship is worth millions of dollars.
- Wimbledon
Wimbledon is one of the four major tennis tournaments known as Grand Slams. It is played on outdoor grass courts and has been held in the All England Club in London since 1877.
It is a prestigious event that attracts premier players and is attended with global media coverage. It is also a favorite among tennis fans from around the world who travel to watch the matches in person.
If you are looking to attend Wimbledon this year, there are a few ways to get tickets. The first is to sign up for a ticket ballot.