Tokyo, Singapore vie to host ATP Finals

LONDON: Tokyo and Singapore are battling London to host the ATP Finals from 2021 to 2025, the governing body of men’s tennis announced on Friday.

The shortlist for the end-of-season showpiece also includes the northern English city of Manchester and Italy’s Turin, while the London deal, which runs until 2020, could be extended.

The announcement of the candidates follows an extensive bid application process that began in August, in which more than 40 cities worldwide expressed an interest in hosting the event.

The final phase will see the ATP visit the cities, with a decision on the successful candidate to be made not before March 2019. The ATP Finals were first held in Tokyo in 1970 and have been staged in some of the major cities around the world, including New York, Sydney, and Shanghai.

Its longest stay in a single venue was across 13 consecutive editions at Madison Square Garden from 1977 to 1989 but it has been held at London’s O2 arena since 2009 -- drawing more than 250,000 fans annually.

Federer, who has won the event a record six times, twice in London, said the British capital was the perfect fit.

But world number one Djokovic, who has won the event five times -four times in London -- said he was in favour of moving the tournament around to promote the sport.

WIMBLEDON TO EXPAND

Wimbledon’s expansion plans have taken a huge step forward after the neighbouring golf club in London voted to sell its land.

The All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC) made an offer, reported to be £65 million ($82 million), to buy Wimbledon Park Golf Club’s land in a move that would see its estate roughly triple in size.

On Thursday, the All England club announced a vote had gone in its favour, and that the transfer, pending court approval, would go through on Dec.21.

A statement said it was “an important and exciting step” for the club and the future of Wimbledon.