Starting in '19, draw sizes will be increased from 32 to 48 at all Challenger Tour eventsGETTY IMAGES
The ATP announced widespread changes to its Challenger Tour in a move "designed to streamline the sport at lower levels and make it easier for more players to earn a living from tennis," according to Simon Chambers of ESPN.com. Starting in '19, draw sizes will be "increased from 32 to 48 at all events, with all players earning prize money, getting ATP ranking points and receiving free accommodations to cut costs." The ATP said that the moves will "double the number of players who can make a living." ATP Chief Player Officer Ross Hutchins said, "We want to really expand it out to 250 to 300 players earning a good living and not having huge expense costs. That's our longer-term goal over a five-year plan." An extra $1M in prize money will be "added to the tour, which will be increased by 10 to 15 events to a total of around 185" by '20. The ATP said that players had "responded favorably to the changes, especially once those who currently play on the Futures Tour understood that there will still be a pathway to the top rungs of the ATP for those who succeed on the ITF Transition Tour" (ESPN.com, 7/23). In London, Charlie Eccleshare noted there will also be a "standardisation of tournament lengths, with all events running across seven days from Monday to Sunday, including qualifying." This will help "avoid tournaments overlapping and make it easier for players to plan their schedules in advance." Medical services will also be "upgraded, with more physiotherapists and better treatment facilities, as well as improved on-site conditions such as more practice courts" (TELEGRAPH.co.uk, 7/23).
