The ATP Finals is the most prestigious men’s tennis tournament after the four Grand Slams, featuring the season’s top eight singles players and doubles teams.
Definition and Format
The ATP Finals is the season-ending championship of the ATP Tour.
Players compete in a unique round-robin format, with participants divided into two groups of four. Each player faces the other three in their group, with the top two from each group advancing to the semifinals.
Historical Evolution
The tournament began in 1970 as the Masters Grand Prix. It underwent several name changes: ATP Tour World Championships (1990-1999), Tennis Masters Cup (2000-2008), ATP World Tour Finals (2009-2016), and finally ATP Finals (2017-present).
Venue History
After a successful 12-year run at London’s O2 Arena (2009-2020), the tournament moved to Turin’s Inalpi Arena in 2021, where it will remain through 2025.
Prize and Points
The tournament offers substantial rewards.
In 2024, the winner Jannik Sinner earned a record $4,881,100, the highest payout for any tournament winner in tennis history. An undefeated champion can earn 1,500 ranking points.
Notable Champions
Novak Djokovic holds the record for most singles titles with seven, surpassing Roger Federer’s six. In doubles, Peter Fleming and John McEnroe jointly hold the record with seven consecutive titles as a team.
Modern Significance
The ATP Finals has embraced technological innovation, introducing live electronic line-calling powered by Hawk-Eye Live in 2020. This system replaced traditional line judges, using pre-recorded voices to announce calls.