Professional Tennis

Guide Note

Professional Tennis is comprised of two professional tours, the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP Tour), and the Women's Tennis Association (WTA Tour). Both tours hold scheduled events throughout the calendar year at various locations. In addition, both tours combine to hold four major tournaments, known as Grand Slam events. These events are the Australian Open the French Open, Wimbledon, and the U.S. Open.

Fast Facts

1. Can be singles or doubles play
2. Can be played on a grass, clay, or asphalt court
3. Regulation court size is 78 feet long
4. Singles play uses 27 feet of width on the court
5. Doubles play uses 36 feet of width
6. First Wimbledon championship took place in 1877

About the ATP Tour

The Association of Tennis Professionals was formed in 1972 as a governing body for the men's professional tennis circuit. The concept was to create an organization that would be the greater voice for the players. By 1988, the association announced that they would officially control the game by helping players form a tour called the ATP Tour. The tour officially began in 1990.¹

About the WTA Tour

The Women's Tennis Association was formed in 1973 by tennis great, Billie Jean King, as a governing body for the women's professional tennis circuit. The following year, the WTA signed a contract with CBS television to begin broadcast of tennis matches and by 1980, what was originally nine players in the organization grew to 250. In 2005, the WTA Tour was changed to the corporate worldwide sponsor title Sony Ericsson WTA Tour.²

Professional Tennis Players

• Active
• Roger Federer
• Rafael Nadal
• Novak Djokovic
• Maria Sharapova
• Venus Williams
• Serena Williams
• Ana Ivanovic

• Retired
• Andre Agassi
• Jimmy Connors
• Bjorn Borg
• Pete Sampras
• Martina Navratilova
• Chris Evert
• Martina Hingis