The ATP has confirmed that Shanghai will host a major men's and women's combined tournament in 2009. This move follows the controversial decision to move Shanghai Tennis Masters Cup back to Europe.

Brad Drewett, chief executive officer of the ATP International Group, said the idea was officially approved and the negotiations with Shanghai organizers were already underway.

"We would ideally like to have one in China, I mean, a combined event bigger than the Masters Cup, probably like the Miami and Indian Wells Masters Series in the United States," said Drewett in an exclusive interview with China Daily in Shanghai.

"Now it's on the top of our agenda. The Masters Cup this year is the best one I've ever seen. I was really amazed by the knowledge of Chinese tennis fans here, they really know the game and also the players. Not only the top 10 players, I think they know even some of the top 50 players perfectly and I am also grateful with the efforts that our partners paid to the tournament over years." Drewett added.

"The market has shown great appetite clearly and that's the reason why we want to give China a heavyweight event that would not be removed for quite a long time," he concluded.

Shanghai is contracted to host the tournament for another two years with an option for another year before the ATP takes it back to Europe.

According to Drewett, four combined events will be held by ATP and WTA around the world in 2009, two in the United States, one in Europe and the other in Asia. The head of men's tennis made it clear - Shanghai is his firm favourite to host the Asian event.

"There is no doubt that Shanghai has incredible venues and fans. The changes I have seen over the past four years is very, very encouraging," said Drewett. "There are some other candidates in Asia bidding for the host, but I can tell you Shanghai will be our first choice."

The olive branch extended by ATP delighted Chinese organizers, who believe the upcoming combined event will lift the sport to an unprecedented level in Shanghai.

"To have our own Masters Series is the top target," said Jiang Lan, general-secretary of the Masters Cup organizing committee.

"A true local event of the city will bring tennis to another level. We aimed at this target even a couple of years ago because Masters Cup would be fixed in only one city, it travels a lot, so we want a real local event which is able to serve our fans and sponsors forever.

The deadline for ATP's decision is next March with the bidding time for such competition opening in December.

"We are ready for the official bid to that event at the end of this year. If we are able to win the host, we would not take the option to hold the last Masters Cup in 2009," he said.

"Personally, I want to see the combined events as soon as possible, I know it's not a sure bet yet but I am 100 percent confident."

Shanghai staged its first international tennis tournament, the Heineken Open, in 1997 and poured in US$2 million to build the Qizhong Tennis Center in 2001.

The developments have helped boost public participation in the sport. Shanghai Sports Bureau released a paper saying 540,000 people have play tennis at least once in Shanghai, compared to only 10,000 ten years ago.

Over 100,000 spectators watched matches at the stadium this year and both the Masters semis and finals, as well as a match between Roger Federer and Andy Roddick, attracted 90 percent of attendance. Attendance at the first Heineken Open barely touched 40 people showing the lightning progress the city has made in raising the sport's awareness among the population.

However, ATP said work yet remains for the city to reach the standard of Masters Series holder.

"A couple of matters need to be strengthened here in terms of having a top-level, combined event," said Drewett.

"I think they need a bigger managing stuff as there will be approximately 200 players at the Masters Series, not only eight. And the stadium needs some adjustment for staging outdoor events.

"But I know it's just a matter of time. For Shanghai, three years will be fully enough."

(China Daily November 21, 2006)