Tel Aviv Open Explained

Tel Aviv Open
Sponsor:Watergen
City:Tel Aviv
Country:Israel
Venue:Expo Tel Aviv
(2022-current)

Israel Tennis Centers
(1978-1999)
Category:ATP Tour 250
(2022–current)
ATP Challenger Series
(1978, 1998-1999)
ATP World Series
(1990–96)
Grand Prix circuit
(1979-81, 1983-89)
Surface:Hard / Indoors
(2022-current)

Hard / Outdoors
(1978-1999)

Draw:28S/28Q/16D
Prize Money:$949,475 (2022)
Website:atptour.com
Completed Event:2022
Singles: Novak Djokovic
Doubles: Rohan Bopanna / Matwé Middelkoop

The Tel Aviv Open (also known as the Tel Aviv Watergen Open due to sponsorship reasons) is an ATP Tour-affiliated tennis tournament. It was first played from 1978 through 1999 (skipping 1982 due to the 1982 Lebanon War and 1997 as it transitioned back to the Challenger Series) and was to be resumed in 2014 as a replacement for the St. Petersburg Open,[1] however its return was cancelled due to security concerns arising from the 2014 Gaza War and scrapped permanently in 2015. On June 21, 2022, it was announced that the tournament would return later that year, albeit in a different venue than previous editions. The tournament was planned to continue in 2023, but was cancelled due to the Israel–Hamas war.[2]

Israeli tennis player Amos Mansdorf appeared in the final five times, winning in 1987, making him the only Israeli to win the event. Jimmy Connors won his final career singles title at the event in 1989.

In 1990 and 1991 the tournament was known as the Riklis Classic and in 1996 it was known as the Eisenberg Israel Open.

The tournament still holds the ATP record for the youngest winner of an ATP event (Aaron Krickstein in 1983, at the age of 16 and 2 months).

Finals

Singles

YearChampionsRunners-upScore
↓  ATP Challenger Series event  ↓
19786-7, 6-4, 6-2
↓  Grand Prix event  ↓
19796–4, 6–3
6–2, 6–3
6–1, 6–1
1982 Not held due to the 1982 Lebanon War
7–6, 6–3
6–4, 6–1
6–3, 6–2
7–5, 6–2
3–6, 6–3, 6–4
4–6, 7–6, 6–2
2–6, 6–2, 6–1
↓  ATP World Series event  ↓
6–4, 6–3
6–2, 3–6, 6–3
4–6, 6–3, 6–4
7–6, 7–5
7–6, 6–3
Ján Krošlák6–3, 6–4
Javier Sánchez Marcos Ondruska6–4, 7–5
1997 Not held
↓  ATP Challenger Series event  ↓
19986–1, 6–7, 6–3
1999 Noam Okun7–6, 6–3
2000–2021 Not held; return cancelled due to 2014 Gaza War
↓  ATP Tour 250 event  ↓
6–3, 6–4
2023 Not held due to Israel–Hamas war

Doubles

YearChampionsRunners-upScore
↓  ATP Challenger Series event  ↓
19786-3, 6-7, 6-3
↓  Grand Prix event  ↓
7–5, 6–4
7–6, 6–3
3–6, 6–3, 6–3
1982 Not held due to the 1982 Lebanon War
6–3, 7–5
6–3, 6–4
6–3, 6–2
6–3, 3–6, 6–3
6–2, 6–4
6–3, 6–3
6–1, 4–6, 6–1
↓  ATP World Series event  ↓
6–3, 6–4
6–2, 6–7, 6–3
6–3, 6–4
6–4, 6–4
6–7, 6–2, 7–6
6–4, 7–5
6–3, 6–2
1997 Not held
↓  ATP Challenger Series event  ↓
1998 7–6, 6–3
1999 6–3, 6–2
2000–2021 Not held; return cancelled due to 2014 Gaza War
↓  ATP Tour 250 event  ↓
6–2, 6–4
2023 Not held due to Israel–Hamas war

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: News | ATP Tour | Tennis.
  2. Web site: 2023 Tel Aviv Watergen Open Cancelled ATP Tour Tennis . 2024-06-09 . ATP Tour . en.