2015 ATP World Tour Media Guide

atp world tour timeline
t
he ATP is in its fifth decade as a leading governing body in professional tennis. The organisation
was formed in 1972 when a handful of the game’s top players met in a secluded stairwell at the
US Open to discuss the need for a players’ association. Under the leadership of newly elected
executive director Jack Kramer and president Cliff Drysdale, the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP)
came to life with a goal of changing the game for the better.
The following is A look bAck AT ATP highlighTs over The PAsT four decAdes:
1973: The ATP establishes the computer ranking system, providing a fair analysis of a player’s performance
and creating an objective way to determine entries into tournaments. The ATP Rankings are introduced on
August 23 with Ilie Nastase debuting at No. 1. Other actions include placing tournament representatives on
the road and standardising prize money distribution and the conduct and discipline code. The ATP shows its
strength and sends message of player unity after players boycott Wimbledon to defend Niki Pilic’s position
against a Yugoslavian Federation suspension for missing a Davis Cup match.
1974: The Men’s International Professional Tennis Council (MIPTC), made up of ATP, ILTF and tournament
directors, is formed to govern the sport as an “independent, democratic, international body for the
administration of professional tennis”.
1976: The ATP Doubles computer rankings begin on March 1.
1979: Full-time MIPTC supervisors are employed on the men’s tour, and Penn becomes the official ball of
the ATP. In a groundbreaking move, four young Chinese players compete in U.S. tournaments for the first
time in over 21 years after being sponsored by the ATP.
1980: The ATP sets up a player pension fund.
1985: At the request of the ATP, MIPTC passes a Drug Testing Rule, making tennis the first professional
sport to institute a workable and well-designed drug testing programme.
1986: In an effort to make the calendar more coherent, the MIPTC moves the Australian Open a month back
to January (‘87) and The Masters a month earlier to December (‘86).
1988: The players, under ATP CEO Hamilton Jordan, hold a press conference in the US Open parking lot
to announce that they will assume more control of the game. “Tennis at the Crossroads” outlines a plan
for players to form a new tour in which they would play a major role and bear greater responsibility for the
future of the sport. The idea is quickly embraced by the membership. Eighty-five of the Top 100 ranked
players sign a letter of support for a new tour within weeks of the news conference. Tournament directors
representing many of the world’s leading events voice their support for the players and join them in what
was to become a partnership unique in professional sports – players and tournaments each with an equal
voice in how the circuit is run.
1989: All Top 50 players contractually agree to play the new ATP Tour in 1990. A new calendar is structured
allowing for an eight-week off-season and tournaments are realigned.
1990: Sponsored by IBM, the ATP Tour era begins with an equal partnership between players and
tournaments. The circuit features 76 tournaments in 28 countries on six continents, with prize money
averaging a 50% increase at the events. Indianapolis tournament director Mark Miles is named ATP CEO.
1991: The first television package for men’s tennis broadcasts 19 tournaments to a worldwide audience.
1993: The ATP Tour extends its global reach, adding Arabian Gulf tournaments in Doha and Dubai. Prize
money continues to rise, increasing by 23%.
1995: The ATP Tour launches its first ATP web site, ATP Online, and further broadens its reach by enlisting
the song “Bring It On” from pop star Seal, which he sings at the ATP Tour Awards Gala and Night of the Stars
at the ATP World Championships in Hannover.
1996: The Mercedes-Benz/ATP partnership begins with a four-year agreement. As the “Official Car of
the ATP”, Mercedes-Benz provides official transportation at ATP tournaments, showcases prominent car
displays at tournament sites and positions its Mercedes-Benz ‘star’ signage on nets.
1997: The ATP Senior Tour of Champions is sanctioned.
1998: Players form a new STARS program as the ATP Tour helps make players more accessible to media,
sponsors and fans. ATP broadcasts extend their reach to more than 200 countries.
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