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20 Best Tennis Tournaments In The World

The game of tennis has been played for a very long time, and its widespread appeal appears to increase with each passing year.

Every tennis season, the most prestigious tournaments in the world gather tens of thousands of spectators who travel from all over the world to take part in the unforgettable experiences associated with these global events.

Each tennis event has its own rich history and traditions in addition to the thrilling on-court competition.

If you are interested in attending some of the top tennis events, below are the 20 best tournaments in the world to help you decide where to go next.

20. Shanghai Masters

LevelLocationStadium
ATP 1000Shanghai, JapanQi Zhong Stadium
  • Played In October

The Shanghai Masters provides a venue where top players in Asia may be seen (Although there aren’t that many).

Of course, it is difficult for it to be considered one of the biggest tournaments because the top players do not all go to compete there, but it still finds a place in top-20 tournaments that you should witness.

The Shanghai Masters has expanded considerably in a short amount of time and consistently receives positive reviews.

There is a fair likelihood that the size of this event will continue to expand due to the increasing number of Asian players competing at the highest levels on both the men’s and women’s sides.

In addition, they have a significant amount of financial backing, ensuring that this event is very well received.

19. Dubai Tennis Championships

LevelLocationStadium
ATP 500Dubai, United Arab EmiratesDubai Tennis Stadium
  • Played In February

The Dubai Tennis Championships, also known as the Dubai Open, is a professional tennis event that is held annually in Dubai on outdoor hardcourts.  The tournament is held towards the end of February and features competitions for both men and women.  

The tournament was formerly an ATP 250 event but was promoted to the more prestigious ATP 500 level in 2001. The WTA Tour features either a WTA 1000 or WTA 500 event in a given year. The British Embassy used to host the annual Dubai Tennis Championship prior to the 1990s.

The area as a whole is fantastic, and the Center Court Stadium is rather large. Several restaurants and a small food court are located outdoors, in addition to the nine courts featured within.

In addition, there is a hotel right next to it (the Jumeirah Creekside Hotel), so visitors can rest easy knowing that they will have a place to stay throughout the event.

18. Italian Open

LevelLocationStadium
ATP 1000Rome, ItalyForo Italico
  • Played In May

Due to the abundance of other clay court competitions that take place throughout the year, the Italian Open is occasionally given less attention than it deserves.

Although it may not be the largest, it consistently attracts a good number of high-caliber men and women year after year. Of course, some of the best players in the world may compete in other clay-court events instead of this one, but this is not something that happens every year.

The Italian tennis team has been performing quite well over the past several years, and they have a number of potential young players who appear to be ready to compete at the highest level.

A significant portion of that is motivated by the appeal of the Italian Open, which allows new players to be close to their favorite stars.

17. The Summer Games Tennis Tournament

LevelLocationStadium
OlympicsDifferent locationsDifferent stadiums
  • Played Every Fourth Year

The most significant aspect of the Summer Games tennis competition is that spectators can see many other outstanding athletic competitions in a single place while immersed in an unparalleled environment.

First included during the 1896 Summer Games, tennis was eliminated from the games in 1924. However, after being absent from the schedule for a decade, it reappeared in 1988 and has not been replaced.

Players battle for the honor of their country over the course of 9 days, while fans may check out tennis or one of the other 33 sports included at the event to see some of the world’s top athletes in action. Paris will host the 2024 Summer Olympics from July 26 to August 11.

16. Paris Masters

LevelLocationStadium
ATP 1000Paris, FranceAccorHotels Arena
  • Played In November

Each year, male tennis stars gather for the Paris Masters competition in France. The AccorHotels Arena is where the action happens and is located in the Bercy district of Paris. The ATP Tour hosts this tournament as a part of the Masters 1000 series.

This competition originated as the French Covered Court Championships many years ago. The event moved to the Stade Pierre de Coubertin in the open period and remained there until 1982. Finally, it was upgraded to the Grand Prix Tour in 1989. Typically, this tournament closes up the ATP World Tour.

Electrifying is the word to explain the atmosphere in the event.  The time immediately preceding the start of the game is similar to the opening of a play.

After the players have passed through the illuminated tunnel, the arena turns completely black, with loud music blaring. It feels amazing to watch your favorite players emerge from the locker room and into the limelight, preparing for their performance.

15. Laver Cup

LevelLocationStadium
Team CompetitionDifferent LocationsDifferent Stadiums
  • Played In September

The Laver Cup is a relatively recent addition to the world of tennis and was given its name after the legendary Australian tennis player Rod Laver. The first tournament was played in 2017, and since then, it has been played annually, except for the year 2020, when the world came to a halt because of COVID-19.

Around the course of a weekend, players from all over the world compete in this tournament. There are two teams – Team World and Team Europe – with six people on each squad.

Three are selected by the captains based on their rankings, while the other three are free agents. Since the competition began, Bjorn Borg and John McEnroe have led their respective teams as captains.

14. Canada Masters

LevelLocationStadium
ATP 1000Montreal/Toronto, CanadaSobeys Stadium/IGA Stadium
  • Played In August

The Canada Masters is one of the most interesting events staged each year. Montreal and Toronto take turns hosting the WTA and ATP Tour, making it a really unique event. 

This implies that competitions are held across the country at the same time each year, albeit not always at the same location. One plus of this approach is that it makes matches feel less crowded. It also allows fans to see tennis in two distinct cities rather than just one every year.

Considering the size of Canada, it is reasonable to invite supporters from throughout the country. Playing in this tournament is a popular way for players to get in shape for the US Open, as the weather is often pleasant. It is usually held just before the Cincinnati Open.

13. WTA Finals

LevelLocationStadium
Top 8 Ranked PlayersDifferent LocationsDifferent Stadiums
  • Played In November

The WTA Finals in China is the most prestigious event of the year for the world’s best professional women tennis players.

It is also one of the toughest tournaments since the WTA Finals takes place towards the end of the season – This is usually the time when players have already tested their physical and mental limits.  So its timing alone turns it into an extremely tough tennis competition.

Despite this, the WTA Finals feature some of the finest matches of the season. This is mostly because players are fighting for a record-breaking first-prize check of $4.725 million, making it the most lucrative championship in all of tennis.

12. Cincinnati Masters

LevelLocationStadium
ATP 1000Mason, Ohio (USA)Lindner Family Tennis Center
  • Played In August

The Cincinnati Masters event is played immediately before the start of the U.S. Open, and many players appreciate the overall layout of the competition. 

This event takes place in a more laid-back section of the US in the Midwest, and the courts are meant to be roughly identical to those found in New York City.

Even though it may become quite hot here at times, many players believe this event serves as the ideal conclusion to the hard-court season just before the main tournament in New York City.

11. Madrid Open

LevelLocationStadium
ATP 1000Madrid, SpainCaja Magica
  • Played In May

The Madrid Open is an annual clay-court competition held in the late spring of each year. It is widely regarded as one of the best tournaments of its kind.

Furthermore, since Spain is known for producing a large number of clay-court specialists, this competition serves as a “home event” that many of them look forward to.

Up until 2009, the event was solely open to men and was held on hard courts for its entire history. However, clay courts are used for the outdoor competition co-sanctioned by the ATP and the WTA since 2009.

Following the conclusion of the Monte-Carlo Masters and just prior to the Rome Masters, this second clay-court tournament of the ATP Masters 1000 series takes place.

10. Miami Open

LevelLocationStadium
ATP 1000Miami Gardens, Florida (USA)Hard Rock Stadium
  • Played In March

Even though it just began in 1985, the Miami Open has already established itself as the premier Spring tennis competition. It is nearly unprecedented for a non-Majors event to draw over 300,000 spectators to its Hard Rock Stadium in Crandon Park. 

If you get bored of watching rallies at the Miami Open, there are lots of other things to do in the area, such as relaxing on the beach, dining at a world-class restaurant, or golfing at one of the area’s many pristine courses.

9. Indian Wells Masters

LevelLocationStadium
ATP 1000Riverside, California (USA)Tennis Garden Stadium 1
  • Played In March

Besides the Grand Slams and the season-ending Tour Finals, BNP Paribas is a major tournament on the tennis calendar. It is no surprise that a tournament held in California would get the moniker “Tennis Paradise,” given the state’s reputation for year-round sunshine. 

Over 400,000 spectators attend the event annually to enjoy the gorgeous tourist destination and everything it has to offer, including five-star hotels, fine cuisine, spas, and, of course, world-class golf.

8. Davis Cup

LevelLocationStadium
Team CompetitionDifferent LocationsDifferent Stadiums

The Davis Cup was originally a match between the United States and Great Britain, but it has since grown to become the world’s largest international team competition. Since its inception in 1900, British men have won it ten times, but Andy Murray finally ended a 79-year drought.

This tournament is unabashedly political, with flag weaving and noisy cheering for the home side, producing an intense and intimidating environment, in contrast to the genteel audiences that are seen at most tennis matches. However, within the realm of the sport, the experience is unparalleled.

7. Fed Cup

LevelLocationStadium
Team CompetitionDifferent LocationsDifferent Stadiums

The Fed Cup is essentially the women’s equivalent of the Davis Cup, in which national teams compete against one another to determine who will emerge victorious.

The Fed Cup actually does have something to offer each and every one of its spectators, including the opportunity to enjoy tennis in a setting that is not sterile or controlled, and to have fun in a way that they may miss on other big stages.

6. Monte-Carlo Masters

LevelLocationStadium
ATP 1000Monte Carlo, MonacoCourt Rainier – III
  • Played In April

Tennis pros compete yearly at Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, a commune that shares a border with Monaco, for the Monte-Carlo Masters. Taking place on the ATP Tour, this tournament is a part of the prestigious Masters 1000 series. The annual event takes place on clay courts in April.

After 2008, all other Masters 1000 tournaments required players to commit, save for Monte Carlo. Despite this, the majority of the game’s best players still plan to attend. During 2005–2012, Rafael Nadal won the tournament eight times in a row. He is the first player in history to do so.

5. ATP World Tour Finals

LevelLocationStadium
Top 8 Players In The WorldDifferent LocationsDifferent Stadiums
  • Played In November

The Grand Slam events are the pinnacle of tennis, but the ATP Finals are the next highest level of competition. Here, the finest players in the world battle for the coveted year-end trophy. The competition has been held in over 15 different cities throughout the world during the course of its history. 

The championship round will take place in Turin this year, after having been held in London for the previous 12 years. Since the impending retirement of Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, and Andy Murray, the transfer marks not just the end of an era for London but also for professional tennis.

4. Australian Open

LevelLocationStadium
Grand SlamMelbourne, AustraliaRod Laver Arena
  • Played In January

As the first of the four Grand Slam tournaments, the Australian Open is a must-see for tennis enthusiasts worldwide. It has been held annually since 1905, and Melbourne Park has been the site since 1988, making it the largest annual athletic tournament in the Southern hemisphere.

However, it is important to note that it has been hosted by more than a dozen other venues, including Perth, Adelaide, Sydney, Brisbane, and New Zealand.

Some of the top tennis players in the world go to Melbourne for the Australian Open, sometimes known as the “Happy Slam,” because of the city’s abundance of stunning beaches and delicious sushi.

Some of the greatest tennis matches ever played have taken place in the Australian Open, with Novak Djokovic winning a record-tying seven titles.   

3. French Open

LevelLocationStadium
Grand SlamParis, FranceCourt Philippe Chatrier
  • Played In May/June

Regarding major tennis events, the French Open is right up there with Wimbledon and the US Open in respectability. Since the players move more slowly on clay, the competition at Roland Garros is known for being particularly intense and draining. 

Even the great Roger Federer, with only one major title, has failed to complete the career slam because of his inability to win the French Open. Rafael Nadal is the reigning champion with 13 title wins.

The fantastic city of Paris is one of the highlights of the French Open. Among the most gorgeous cities on earth, and for a good reason!

One of the top tennis events in the world could not be held in a more fitting setting than this city, with its little cafes, fantastic cuisine, luxurious hotels, and breathtaking architecture.

2. US Open

LevelLocationStadium
Grand SlamQueens, New York (USA)Arthur Ashe Stadium
  • Played In September

The US Open is the closest thing tennis has to a festival, and like other big tennis tournaments, it is as much a media spectacle and tourist draw as it is a competitive event.

There will be live music to get things off, and during the event, attendees can choose from various food trucks, retail outlets, and drinking establishments.

At the US Open, everything appears to be magnified and amplified. This may be attributed in no little part to the electric vibes that permeate the air at Arthur Ashe Stadium, the world’s premier tennis venue.

There are also a lot of fans attending every game, and the excitement of performing in a metropolis like New York is unrivaled.

1. Wimbledon

LevelLocationStadium
Grand SlamWimbledon, London (UK)No. 1 Court
  • Played In June/July

Wimbledon is the most popular of the four Grand Slam championships among casual tennis spectators and top-level players. The event has been held on the prestigious grounds of the All-England club in the suburbs of London since 1877. 

Wimbledon is well-known not just for its world-class tennis but also for its royal appearances, celebrity sightings, delicious strawberries and cream, and strict white dress code.