The ATP recently announced a group of five potential host sites for the Nitto ATP Finals starting in 2021–London, Manchester, Singapore, Tokyo, and Turin. London, of course, is the current site and has hosted the prestigious year-end championship at the O2 Arena dating back to 2009.
London’s contract ends following the 2020 event, although it is by no means out of the running to remain as the host site.
“The level of interest we have received worldwide throughout the bid application process reflects the rich heritage of this unique tournament, as well as the success of the event at the O2 since 2009,” said ATP CEO Chris Kermode, who added that at least 40 cities put in bids. “It has been a highly competitive process, and the candidate cities on the short list deserve huge credit for the passion and creative vision they have shown in their respective plans to continue the growth of our showpiece event.”
Commentator and coach Darren Cahill is even calling for a surface change from an indoor hard court, but that almost certainly won’t happen.
“It needs to be played on clay,” Cahill posted on Twitter. “They could easily drop a clay court and a couple of practice courts in the O2. More expensive but dollars are flowing with the bidding. It’s unfair that it’s always on one surface. I’m ok with it staying at the O2 if that’s what is decided as London has supported it incredibly well.
But rotating the surface a little bit is important. It’s the ATP’s biggest event and should be fair to all players across a career.”
The future host site of the Nitto ATP Finals will not be announced before March of 2019.
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Not something I can get excited about but it would be nice to have the ATP’s biggest showcase OUTDOORS where tennis is meant to be played. However, this is supposed to be a money-maker for the ATP so they’ll put it where they think they can make the most $$$. Like I said, not something that gets my adrenaline up.
Having it played on grass or clay would be interesting.
Indoor grass?? Hey, if Wimbledon can do it…. Bur if you can put a clay court down indoors, why not sod? In a perfect world I’d love to see it on grass but this world ain’t perfect. The guys are pretty beat up by the end of the season and asking them to change surfaces yet again is a big ask.
I Like the idea of a clay court format every now and then…would be fun for the fans…and i hope the Finals stay in London.