The ATP Board today approved Shanghai as the host of the ATP’s Asian Masters Series tournament, starting in 2009.

Shanghai has hosted the men’s season-ending Tennis Masters Cup on three occasions. The first was in 2002 and it has since held the event in 2005 and 2006 and will continue to stage the tournament in China for the next two years.

“We are delighted to confirm that the ATP will expand its relationship with the city, its tennis fans and our partners in Shanghai in their world class tennis facility and stadium,” said ATP Executive Chairman and President Etienne de Villiers. “China is a major growth market for tennis and it is vital for the sport to have premium events in its major cities, ideally on a continuing basis. With the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour announcing a top event in Beijing we have now given the sport of tennis in China the chance to develop and evolve over time and options to allow existing and new tennis fans to savor the joys of our great sport at the highest level.”

Tennis Masters Cup Tournament Director and ATP CEO International, Brad Drewett said the tournament had played a significant role in the development and popularity of the game in not only Shanghai, but also China as a whole.

“It is a natural progression for Shanghai to become an ATP Masters Series Tournament,” Drewett said. “Shanghai has the infrastructure and expertise as well as huge public support to stage one of the ATP’s eight biggest events.”

“The Shanghai Administration of Sport and Shanghai Ba-shi have been dedicated partners for the Masters Cup and have invested tremendous resources to grow tennis in Shanghai. This support for the ATP and passion to grow the sport of tennis in China will continue to strengthen with an annual ATP Masters Series tournament,” he said.

Mr. Yu Chen, Director of Shanghai Administration of Sport, said “It is so pleasing to know that Shanghai is authorized to become the first Asian city to host the ATP Masters Series event. Our thanks to the ATP for giving Shanghai this honour. After holding the Tennis Masters Cup in 2002, and 2005 to 2008, this is another large-scale tennis event that has settled in Shanghai. During the ten years since the inaugural Heineken Open in 1998, the sport of tennis has developed greatly in Shanghai, and it has become a sport, which attracts a large amount of enthusiastic people. It is definite that the Masters Series in 2009 will accelerate the popularity of tennis in Shanghai and country-wide as well. Shanghai Administration of Sports, led by China Administration of Sports, Chinese Tennis Association and Shanghai Municipal Government, with the support of people from all social classes, will definitely make the event a great success!”

The President of the Shanghai Ba-shi Company, Wang Liqun said he was delighted with the ongoing relationship with premium ATP Tennis. “Ba-shi is extremely honoured to be selected by the ATP to stage a Tennis Masters Series event starting in 2009 and we will continue to build on the success of the past 10 years of ATP development in Shanghai to host the best possible tournament for both the public and players.”

The new venue for the Tennis Masters Cup will be announced later this year.