The German Tennis Association (DTB) wants Hamburg as the location for a men’s Masters tournament. “My wish would be very clear that we organize a 1000 tournament in Hamburg. I can’t assess how realistic that is,” said DTB President Dietloff von Arnim to the Hamburger Abendblatt.
The Masters 1000 tournaments are the most important events below the four Grand Slam tournaments. However, if that is not possible, the existing 500 men’s tournament at Rothenbaum will “continue to be the flagship of our tournament landscape, in the most beautiful tennis stadium in the world,” said von Arnim.
Rothenbaum: Alignment rights reassigned
The Hamburg tournament will be held for the last time in 2023 as a combined event with men’s and women’s tournaments under the aegis of the Austrian family company “Reichel Business Group”. Peter-Michael Reichel is the organizer of the ATP 500 tournament, and his daughter Sandra Reichel is the tournament director. From 2024, the DTB has transferred the hosting rights for the men’s tournament to the Tennium agency.
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“From 2024 onwards, the DTB will generate a significantly higher license fee, and the financial aspect is a significant argument. But we didn’t just pay attention to the financial offer. It is just as important for us that the tournament is developed further,” said von Arnim and said: “Combined events are great if they work economically. But we saw better development opportunities for our men’s tournament, and the DTB only has a license for that, if we reassigned it.” (dpa/Ino/nswz)
