We were bitterly disappointed when we heard that Shanghai was to lose the Tennis Masters Cup, a competition which brings together the top eight players in the world, to London. And disappointment made way for disgust when we heard that all we were getting in return was the Shanghai ATP Masters 1000, a competition which brings together the top eight players in the world and then the next best 48 for good measure… Saythewhatnow? Yup, that’s right it’s mock the cockney time as we’ve traded a seven-day, evening-only, 30-match competition for an eight-day, all-day, 99-match extravaganza. Here’s the lowdown...

The tournament is the eighth leg of the ATP World Tour Masters 1000, a series of nine tennis tournaments that are part of the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) tour, held annually throughout the year in Europe, North America and, as of Shanghai 2009, Asia. 

The series constitutes the most prestigious tournaments in men’s tennis after the four Grand Slam events and the ATP World Tour Finals.

We puzzled over the Byzantine qualification system for an entire morning before deciding we’d spare you the headache (read: couldn’t work it out). Suffice to say the 77 best singles players in the world will be in Shanghai. The post-qualification competition proper features 56 players, 48 taking part in the first round, with the 24 winners being joined by the eight top seeds in the second round. These 32 then battle it out to the final. In a break from the Tennis Masters Cup round robin format of previous years, every round is a straight-up knockout best-of-three-set match, which means excitement, upsets and lose-and-go-home. Loser. Oh, and there’s a 24-team doubles competition.

Everybody who’s anybody. Those with ATP Ranking positions better than 46 are automatically entered, with the top 20 players obligated to compete (barring any babies who cry off with a doctor’s note, cough, Mr. Federer). We’re talking del Potro, Nadal, Murray, Djokovic, Roddick et al.

It’s known as the Masters 1000 as that’s how many ATP rankings points the winner is awarded. With a sliding scale down from there for the finalist, semi-finalists, etc. it’s no wonder it draws in the big names. That and the small matter of USD4 million prize money.

 

As with the Tennis Masters Cup, the hard court surfaces of the Qizhong Forest Sports City Arena will host the competition, with all matches played outdoors for the first time. Faster than clay, but not as fast as grass, hard courts are generally accepted to give fast, hard-hitting players a slight advantage, but it is only slight, making for the most open, hard-to-call competitions on the circuit.

To avoid the traffic, and the parking, take Metro line 5 to Minhang Station and get a free shuttle bus or taxi from there. If you’re driving take the Humin Elevated Highway (Xinzhuang direction), turn onto the A4 Highway, get off the A4 Highway at Yindu Lu or Jindu Lu, continue on Yindu Road or Jindu Lu and turn left at Humin Lu or Zhongchun Lu, continue on Hunmin Lu or Zhongchun Lu and turn right at Yuanjiang Lu, continue on Yuanjiang Lu and get off at Kunyang Bei Lu. 

The 2009 Shanghai ATP Masters 1000 takes place at the Qizhong Forest Sports City Arena from 10-18 October. Tickets are available by calling 962288 or 962388 or by visiting the official website www.shanghaimasters1000.com

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