ATP Auckland Open explained

ATP Auckland Open
Logo Size:150px
Founded:1886
City:Auckland
Country:New Zealand
Venue:ASB Tennis Centre
Category:International Series
(1998–2008)
ATP World Tour 250 series
(2009–current)
Surface:Grass (1956–1977)
Hard (1978–current)
Draw:28S/32Q/16D
Prize Money:$713,495 (2023)
Website:Auckland Open
Completed Event:2024
Men's Singles: Alejandro Tabilo
Men's Doubles: Nikola Mektić
Wesley Koolhof

The ATP Auckland Open, commonly known by its sponsored name ASB Classic, is a professional men's tennis tournament in Auckland, New Zealand. The tournament is played at the ASB Tennis Centre, in Parnell. It is part of the ATP World Tour 250 series of the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) World Tour. The tournament is held annually in January a week before the first Grand Slam tournament of the season, the Australian Open.

The ASB Classic returned in 2023 after the 2021 and 2022 events were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic causing travel restrictions for international visitors to New Zealand.[1] [2] [3]

History

In the 1920s major new tennis venues were built in Auckland for the Auckland Lawn Tennis Association (now Tennis Auckland), Wellington and Christchurch in the 1920s comprising both grass and hard courts.[4] In 1920 when the Auckland Lawn Tennis Association (now Tennis Auckland) was looking for a permanent base, the only available site was a tip in Stanley Street. The local clubs raised the-then significant sum of 1,800 pounds to prepare the site and build new courts. For the next 30 years the Tennis Centre in Stanley Street was home to local tennis matches. In 1956 Auckland hosted its first permanent international tournament, the 'Auckland Invitation'.[5] The tournament was a joint men's and women's event until 1981.[6]

From 1969, the first edition in the open era of tennis, until 1995 the tournament was known under its sponsored name 'Benson and Hedges Open'. From 1998 until 2015 it was named the 'Heineken Open'.[7]

By the 1960s the shuttle bus fare from town to Stanley Street was sixpence. Admission was five shillings for the first three days and 7/6 for finals and semifinals – a whole tournament for the equivalent of $4. By the 1970s, 25 cents got you all-day parking next door at Carlaw Park. The tournament was played on outdoor grass courts from its inaugural edition in 1956 until 1977, switching to hard courts in 1978.[8] [9] Between 1979 and 1989 it was a tournament of the Grand Prix tennis circuit.

After being separated for 34 years, the WTA and ATP merged the event in 2016 and both tournaments are now known collectively as the ASB Classic. Heineken will still be a sponsor but will have a diminished role in anticipation of new tennis regulations restricting alcohol sponsorship.[10]

Both the 2021 and 2022 Auckland Open were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In regards to the 2022 cancellation, organizers cited New Zealand's strict quarantine rules as making it intractable for players, officials, and all other required staff to be admitted into the country.[11] [12]

Past finals

Men's singles

YearChampionsRunners-upScore
1956 Allan Burns6–4, 6–3, 6–3
1957 colspan="3" align="center"
1958 2–6, 6–4, 6–2, 4–6, 6–3
1959 Roy Emerson6–2, 6–4, 8–6
1960 6–3, 6–1, 6–1
1961 4–6, 6–3, 6–2, 3–6, 7–5
1962 6–3, 8–10, 7–5, 6–2
1963 2–6, 6–3, 6–1, 6–2
1964 Fred Stolle (2)6–3, 6–1, 6–1
1965 Roy Emerson (2)3–6, 8–6, 7–5, 6–3
1966 Roy Emerson (3)6–4, 6–3, 6–1
1967 Roy Emerson (4)6–4, 6–2, 7–5
1968 6–3, 6–8, 1–6, 6–3, 6–2
↓  Open Era  ↓
6–1, 6–4, 4–6, 6–3
6–4, 6–4, 6–1
7–6, 7–6, 6–3
6–4, 6–4, 7–6
4–6, 6–7, 6–2, 6–0, 7–6
6–4, 6–3, 6–1
Onny Parun (2)4–6, 6–4, 6–4, 6–7, 6–4
Onny Parun (3)6–2, 6–3, 4–6, 6–3
7–6, 5–7, 6–1, 6–2
6–3, 7–5, 6–1
6–3, 6–7, 6–4, 2–6, 6–2
6–4, 3–6, 6–3, 6–4
6–7, 6–3, 3–6, 7–6, 6–0
Tim Wilkison (2)6–4, 6–4, 6–4
6–4, 6–3, 6–3
4–6, 6–3, 6–4, 6–4
7–5, 6–0, 2–6, 6–4
6–4, 6–3, 3–6, 6–4
6–2, 6–3, 6–4
6–3, 6–4
6–4, 6–0
4–6, 6–3, 6–3
7–6(7–5), 7–6(7–4)
7–6(8–6), 6–4
7–6(7–2), 6–4
6–4, 6–0
6–2, 6–1
6–4, 6–4
7–6, 6–0
4–6, 6–4, 7–6(7–3)
6–4, 6–4
3–6, 6–3, 7–5
6–4, 2–6, 6–3
6–7, 6–4, 7–5
6–3, 7–5
Dominik Hrbatý (2) 4–6, 6–2, 7–5
6–4, 6–2
6–2, 6–2
6–4, 6–2
7–6(7–4), 7–5
6–4, 6–4
6–3, 5–7, 7–6(7–2)
David Ferrer (2)6–3, 6–2
David Ferrer (3)6–3, 6–4
David Ferrer (4)7–6(7–5), 6–1
John Isner (2)7–6(7–4), 7–6(9–7)
6–3, 6–2
6–1, 1–0, Ret.
6–3, 5–7, 6–3
Roberto Bautista Agut (2)6–1, 4–6, 7–5
6–4, 6–2
7–6(7–2), 3–6, 7–6(7–5)
2021 rowspan="2" colspan="3" align="center"
2022
4–6, 6–4, 6–4
6–2, 7–5

Men's doubles

YearChampionsRunners-upScore
1968
1969 13–15, 6–3, 8–6, 8–6
1970
1971 6–3, 6–7, 6–4, 4–6, 6–3
1972 Bob Carmichael (2)
Ray Ruffels (2)
1973
1974 6–1, 6–4
1975 Bob Carmichael (3)
Ray Ruffels (3)
7–6, Ret.
1976 Not completed
1977 7–6, 6–4
1978 Chris Lewis (2)
Russell Simpson (2)
6–1, 7–6
1979 6–3, 2–6, 6–3
1980 6–2, 7–5
1981 7–5, 6–1
1982 7–5, 7–6
1983 Chris Lewis (2)
Russell Simpson (2)
7–6, 6–3
1984 7–5, 6–2
1985 John Fitzgerald
Chris Lewis (3)
7–6, 6–2
1986 6–3, 6–4
1987 7–6, 7–6
1988 6–3, 3–6, 6–4
7–6, 7–6
7–6, 6–0
4–6, 6–3, 6–4
6–4, 6–3
6–3, 7–6
6–2, 4–6, 6–4
Grant Connell (2)
Patrick Galbraith (2)
6–4, 6–3
W/O
Ellis Ferreira
Patrick Galbraith (3)
6–4, 4–6, 7–6
6–4, 6–2
7–5, 7–5
7–5, 6–4
7–6, 6–4
7–6, 7–6
7–6, 4–6, 6–3
4–6, 7–5, 6–3
6–4, 7–6
6–3, 5–7, [10–4]
Jeff Coetzee
Rogier Wassen (2)
6–7, 6–3, [10–2]
6–4, 3–6, [10–7]
7–5, 6–4
7–5, 6–4
6–4, 7–6(8–6)
6–3, 6–2
7–6(7–1), 7–6(7–2)
4–6, 6–3, [10–5]
7–6(7–1), 6–4
7–5, 6–4
1–6, 6–2, [10–3]
Oliver Marach (2)
Mate Pavić (2)
6–4, 5–7, [10–7]
6–3, 6–4
Luke Bambridge
Ben McLachlan (2)
7–6(7–3), 6–3
2021 rowspan="2" colspan="3" align="center"
2022
Nikola Mektić
Mate Pavić (3)
6–4, 6–7(5–7), [10–6]
6–3, 6–7(5–7), [10–7]

See also

External links

-36.854°N 174.773°W

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Stuff. 2021 ASB Classic cancelled. 6 October 2020. 12 April 2021. 20 October 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211020154712/https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/tennis/300125342/asb-classic-new-zealands-premier-tennis-tournament-cancelled-due-to-covid19. live.
  2. Web site: Tennis: ASB Classic cancelled for second straight year. 2021-06-30. NZ Herald-NZ. 20 October 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221020215626/https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/tennis-asb-classic-cancelled-for-second-straight-year/HFT33WQ7ABUGE5HZ37IGYW5BHY/. live.
  3. Web site: ASB Classic to return to Auckland after 2-year hiatus. 1 News. 7 June 2022. 23 June 2022. 2 January 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230102024901/https://www.1news.co.nz/2022/06/07/asb-classic-to-return-to-auckland-after-2-year-hiatus/. live.
  4. Web site: Romanos . Joseph . Tennis: Consolidation, 1920s to 1940s . Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand . Ministry for Culture and Heritage, New Zealand. . 4 April 2023 . 5 Sep 2013 . 4 April 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230404065715/https://teara.govt.nz/en/tennis/print . live .
  5. Romanos (2013)
  6. Web site: Our tennis open. New Zealand Listener. Joseph Romanos. 8 January 2005. NOTED.co.nz. 21 August 2012. 22 December 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20151222122614/http://www.listener.co.nz/current-affairs/sport/our-tennis-open/. live.
  7. Web site: Tennis: Net profits the name of the game. New Zealand Herald. 5 January 2002.
  8. News: All-weather surface for courts . The Press . 5 November 1976 . 10 . Papers Past.
  9. News: John Brooks . Davis Cup venue change hinted . The Press . 16 February 1978 . 30 . Papers Past . The new surface in Auckland was installed at a cost of $300,000 because the grass courts get so little use during a year and were subject to frequent wash-outs..
  10. Web site: Tennisnews.com . ATP and WTA Auckland events merge . 28 August 2015 . 4 January 2016 . 20 October 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211020060814/https://www.tennisnews.com/2015/08/28/atp-and-wta-auckland-events-merge/ . live .
  11. Web site: 6 October 2020. 2021 ASB Classic cancelled. Stuff. 12 April 2021. 20 October 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211020154712/https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/tennis/300125342/asb-classic-new-zealands-premier-tennis-tournament-cancelled-due-to-covid19. live.
  12. Web site: Tennis: ASB Classic cancelled for second straight year. 2021-06-30. NZ Herald-NZ. 20 October 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221020215626/https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/tennis-asb-classic-cancelled-for-second-straight-year/HFT33WQ7ABUGE5HZ37IGYW5BHY/. live.