Special Sub-Topic: World Tour Masters 1000 Events Click Here To Play: World Tour Masters 1000 Events

In 2009, the ATP (Association of Tennis Professionals) Masters Tournaments changed their title to ATP World Tour Masters 1000. Why the addition of 1000?

The winner of each event earns 1000 points. In fact, the ATP tennis calendar consists of 63 events a year in 31 countries with three point awarding tiers, 39 x 250, 11 x 500, and 9 x 1000 tournaments. This is in addition to the four Grand Slams: The Australian Open, The French Open, Wimbledon, and The U.S. Open that offer 2000 points for the winner.

The Masters 1000 tournament in Madrid introduced a different surface for the first time in 2009. What was the new surface?

Clay. Not only had Madrid switched surfaces, but also the calendar date is different. Formerly played in late Fall/Autumn, it was changed to take place in the Spring European clay swing.

A brand new Masters 1000 event was on the calendar for the first time in 2009. Which city and country obtained this newest addition to the calendar?

Shanghai, China. A brand new tournament did start in 2009 in Johannesburg, South Africa, but it was a 250 event. The Brazil 250 tournament takes place in Costa do Sauipe. There is also a 250 tournament in Estoril, Portugal.

Which of these tournaments is not a Masters 1000 event?

Tokyo. Tokyo is a 500 event. The top players are required to play at least 18 tournaments a year including all the Grand Slams and 1000 events, plus a few 500 and 250 tournaments.

In 2008, the first player listed won more Masters tournaments than anyone else, and the second player listed did not win any. Which combination of players was this?

Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer. Of the nine Masters tournaments in 2008, Spaniard Rafael Nadal won three: Monte Carlo, Hamburg, and Toronto. Roger Federer is from Switzerland.

British player Andy Murray accomplished a rare feat in winning back-to-back Masters tournaments in 2008. What were they?

Cincinnati and Madrid. No other player accomplished this feat in 2008, but in 2007 two players snagged back-to-back tournaments: Rafael Nadal won Monte Carlo and Rome in the Spring, and David Nalbandian from Argentina won Madrid and Paris in the Fall/Autumn.

One tournament was downgraded to 500 status starting in 2009. Which one was it?

Hamburg. Hamburg's Tournament Director was Michael Stich, a former top German player whose career highlight was undoubtedly winning Wimbledon in 1991.

Rafael Nadal is known as the King of Clay because of his prowess on the clay courts. One of his losses came in 2008 at Rome to fellow Spaniard Juan Carlos Ferrero. Who beat him in the final of Hamburg in 2007?

Roger Federer. This was the first time that Roger Federer had beaten Rafael Nadal on clay. Although Nadal lost in 2007 at Hamburg, he came back to win at Hamburg in 2008.

The Canada Masters 1000 event alternates between two Canadian cities. In 2008 it was held in Toronto. Which Canadian city hosted the 2007 event?

Montreal. When the men's tournament is in Toronto, the ladies' tennis equivalent is held in Montreal the following week, and vice-versa. Rafael Nadal won in Toronto in 2008 (beating Nicolas Kiefer from Germany), and Novak Djokovic won in Montreal in 2007 (beating Roger Federer).

Wimbledon is played on grass. Only one of the Masters 1000 events is played on grass also.

False. The only ATP grass tournaments are 250 events: Halle in Germany, Queens in London, Eastbourne in England, Newport in the USA and s-Hertogenbosch in The Netherlands. As for the Masters 1000 tournaments: Indian Wells, Miami, Canada, and Cincinnati are all outdoor hardcourts. Monte Carlo, Rome, and Madrid are red clay. Paris and Shanghai are indoor hardcourts.