The ATP Masters 1000, officially the ATP Tour Masters 1000, is the third-most prestigious tier of competition within the ATP's annual tour, second only to the 4 Grand Slams and the ATP Finals. ATP Masters 1000 titles are among the most coveted by male professional tennis players, and the events rank among the most watched tennis tournaments in the world, in terms of both live spectators and television viewers.
📜 ATP Masters 1000 History
The ATP Masters 1000 tour level was founded in 1990, following the discontinuation of the Grand Prix tour. Initially known as the ATP Championship Series, the category combined the 9 most esteemed tournaments on the men’s professional tennis tour, outside the 4 Grand Slams.
Renamed the ATP Masters Series in 2004, and then the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 in 2009 to reference the number of ranking points tournament winners collect across the tour level, the category has continued to be a major part of the tennis season, with its tennis tournaments featuring the best male players in the world, competing across a range of countries. The ATP Masters 1000 still includes 9 events, all of which exhibit high-quality tennis in major cities, with prestigious trophies, 1000 ranking points, and a generous pay-day all at stake, every time players take to the court.
Novak Djokovic is the only player to have held all ATP Masters 1000 titles – he completed the feat by winning the Cincinnati Masters in 2018.
💯 ATP Masters 1000 Format & Scoring
The ATP Masters 1000 tour level is currently comprised of 9 events which are held across 6 countries: Canada, China, France, Italy, Spain, and the United States. All 9 events are played on either a clay court or hard court surface. With the exception of the Paris Masters, the final ATP Masters 1000 event of the calendar year, all events are technically outdoor tournaments, although some are hosted at venues with retractable roofs.
Masters tournaments do not all take place consecutively, but are mostly spaced-out throughout the season, as is the case with events across all professional ATP and WTA tour levels. Each ATP Masters 1000 event generally takes place across 7-10 days (though some tournaments last longer) and consists of a singles draw played across 6 or 7 rounds, and a doubles draw taking place across at least 4 rounds. The winners at each of these prestigious tournaments collect 1000 ATP ranking points, as well as large portions of some of the most generous prize pots on the professional tennis tour.