(December 14, 2016) LONDON – The ATP has announced the Tournaments of the Year in the 2016 ATP World Tour Awards presented by Moët & Chandon, with the BNP Paribas Open and Aegon Championships joined by the If Stockholm Open and Winston-Salem Open as the most favoured ATP World Tour events in their respective tournament categories.
The Tournament of the Year awards, voted annually by ATP players, recognise the leading standards set across the three tournament categories on the Tour. Indian Wells repeats at the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 level, while The Queen’s Club in London wins for the second successive year as a 500 tournament. In the 250 category, first-time winners Stockholm and Winston-Salem share honours.
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Chris Kermode, ATP Executive Chairman & President, said: “These tournaments have set the benchmark in their respective categories in 2016 and fully deserve this recognition from the players. Our tournaments are continuously striving to reach greater heights, and this is a fitting recognition of the tireless work and effort that has been put in by each tournament’s organising team.”
The BNP Paribas Open has been named as the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Tournament of the Year for the third consecutive season. The tournament received the distinction for the first time in 2014, following the debut of its state-of-the-art Stadium 2, additional practice courts and a new shade structure. Following the 2016 event, numerous improvements have been made to Stadium 1, including upgrading, expanding and adding concessions and suites for the 2017 tournament.
“As a player, I can understand why this event has been named ‘Tournament of the Year’ on the ATP World Tour for the third consecutive year,” said Tournament Director Tommy Haas. “Now as a member of the Indian Wells team, I have even more respect for the countless hours of planning and dedication that the entire staff contributes to make the BNP Paribas Open one of the best sporting events in the world. We remain focused on improving the event every year and hope to make the 2017 edition even more memorable.”
The Aegon Championships receives a Tournament of the Year award for a fourth straight season. It won at the 250 level in 2013-14 before its re-categorisation as an ATP World Tour 500 event for 2015. In 2017, the tournament will expand its Centre Court capacity by 30%, with the addition of more than 2,000 seats.
“Any time a tournament is voted for by the players as the best in its category is something to celebrate, but this year it is particularly satisfying,” said Tournament Director Stephen Farrow. “The weather in 2016 posed a number of challenges for us, and it is a huge credit to everyone involved in the tournament that we were still able produce an event that the players felt inclined to recognise in this way. We look forward to running an even better tournament in 2017 with more people able to watch the action than ever before.”
For the second successive year and the fifth time overall (since 1986), two events have been named joint winners in the ATP World Tour 250 category. The If Stockholm Open hosted its 48th edition in October, while the Winston-Salem Open was held in August for the sixth year running.
“Considering all the great tournaments across the globe, we are so honoured to win the ATP World Tour 250 Tournament of the Year,” said Simon Aspelin, the If Stockholm Open Tournament Director. “It’s a great achievement and a credit to the tournament organisation, the Royal Tennis Club of Stockholm, our sponsors and our volunteers. On behalf of the organization I would like to say thank you to all the players voting for our tournament and giving us the best feedback we could wish for.”
Bill Oakes, the Tournament Director of the Winston-Salem Open, said, “We recognise this award is due to the amazing dedication of not only the tournament staff but because of the many volunteers and those in the Winston-Salem community who work to make our tournament and city a great place for the ATP World Tour players to compete and prepare for the US Open.”