ATP chief Andrea Gaudenzi looking at holding Masters 1000 event on grass
ATP Tour chief Andrea Gaudenzi admits he is exploring the possibility of staging a Masters 1000 event on grass in Britain in the lead-up to Wimbledon, saying: "We have a Grand Slam on grass but not a Masters 1000"
Tuesday 27 April 2021 11:38, UK
The ATP is exploring the possibility of staging a Masters 1000 event on grass in the lead-up to Wimbledon, the chairman of the men's tour Andrea Gaudenzi has said.
Masters 1000 events are among most prestigious tournaments after the four Grand Slams, with three held on clay and a further six on hard courts every year, but none on grass as yet.
A Masters tournament has never been held on grass since the series' inception in 1990 and the events organised in the build-up to Wimbledon are ATP 500 and ATP 250 tournaments in Germany, Britain, and the Netherlands.
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"I personally like the concept of having an ATP Masters 1000 tournament on grass the week of Queen's and Halle," Gaudenzi told The Times. "It is something I have proposed to the stakeholders and to the board.
"I like the concept of a strong Masters 1000 leading into Wimbledon. We have a Grand Slam on grass but not a Masters 1000.
"It is obviously going to have to be discussed by everyone but that could be a way of bringing a big event to the UK."
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This year's grass-court season was cut short by a week following the postponement of the French Open due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Roland Garros will begin on May 24 and finish on June 13, two weeks before the expected start of Wimbledon.
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