The ATP Auckland Open, commonly known by its sponsored name ASB Classic, is a professional men's tennis tournament in Auckland, New Zealand. The tournament is played annually at the ASB Tennis Centre, in Parnell. It is part of the ATP World Tour 250 series of the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) World Tour. The tournament is held annually in January a week before the first Grand Slam tournament of the season, the Australian Open.

ATP Auckland Open
Tournament information
Founded1886
LocationAuckland
New Zealand
VenueASB Tennis Centre
CategoryInternational Series
(1998–2008)
ATP World Tour 250 series
(2009–current)
SurfaceGrass (1956–1977)
Hard[a] (1978–current)
Draw28S/32Q/16D
Prize money$713,495 (2023)
WebsiteAuckland Open
Current champions (2024)
Men's singlesChile Alejandro Tabilo
Men's doublesCroatia Nikola Mektić
Netherlands Wesley Koolhof

The Auckland Open returned in 2023 after the 2021 and 2022 events were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic causing travel restrictions for international visitors to New Zealand.[1][2][3]

History edit

In the 1920s major new tennis venues were built in Auckland for the Auckland Lawn Tennis Association (now Tennis Auckland), Wellington and Christchurch in the 1920s comprising both grass and hard courts.[4] In 1920 when the Auckland Lawn Tennis Association (now Tennis Auckland) was looking for a permanent base, the only available site was a tip in Stanley Street. Undeterred, the local clubs raised the-then enormous sum of 1,800 pounds to prepare the site and build new courts. For the next 30 years the Tennis Centre in Stanley Street was home to local tennis matches. In 1956 Auckland hosted its first permanent international tournament, the 'Auckland Invitation'.[5] The tournament was a joint men's and women's event until 1981.[6]

From 1969, the first edition in the open era of tennis, until 1995 the tournament was known under its sponsored name 'Benson and Hedges Open'. From 1998 until 2015 it was named the 'Heineken Open'.[7]

By the 1960s the shuttle bus fare from town to Stanley Street was sixpence. Admission was five shillings for the first three days and 7/6 for finals and semifinals – a whole tournament for the equivalent of $4. By the 1970s, 25 cents got you all-day parking next door at Carlaw Park. The tournament was played on outdoor grass courts from its inaugural edition in 1956 until 1977, switching to hard courts in 1978. Between 1979 and 1989 it was a tournament of the Grand Prix tennis circuit.

After being separated for 34 years, the WTA and ATP merged the event in 2016 and both tournaments are now known collectively as the ASB Classic. Heineken will still be a sponsor but will have a diminished role in anticipation of new tennis regulations restricting alcohol sponsorship.[8]

Both the 2021 and 2022 Auckland Open were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In regards to the 2022 cancellation, organizers cited New Zealand's strict quarantine rules as making it intractable for players, officials, and all other required staff to be admitted into the country.[9][10]

Past finals edit

 
The ASB Tennis Centre

Men's singles edit

Year Champions Runners-up Score
1956   Robert Perry   Allan Burns 6–4, 6–3, 6–3
1957 Final not played due to rain
1958   Trevor Fancutt   Robert Mark 2–6, 6–4, 6–2, 4–6, 6–3
1959   Jeff Robson   Roy Emerson 6–2, 6–4, 8–6
1960   Roy Emerson   Ronald McKenzie 6–3, 6–1, 6–1
1961   Rod Laver   Roy Emerson 4–6, 6–3, 6–2, 3–6, 7–5
1962   Ken Fletcher   Lew Gerrard 6–3, 8–10, 7–5, 6–2
1963   Fred Stolle   Bob Hewitt 2–6, 6–3, 6–1, 6–2
1964   Fred Stolle (2)   Lew Gerrard 6–3, 6–1, 6–1
1965   Roy Emerson (2)   Pierre Barthès 3–6, 8–6, 7–5, 6–3
1966   Roy Emerson (3)   Roger Taylor 6–4, 6–3, 6–1
1967   Roy Emerson (4)   Owen Davidson 6–4, 6–2, 7–5
1968   Barry Phillips-Moore   Onny Parun 6–3, 6–8, 1–6, 6–3, 6–2
↓  Open Era  ↓
1969   Tony Roche   Rod Laver 6–1, 6–4, 4–6, 6–3
1970   Roger Taylor   Tom Okker 6–4, 6–4, 6–1
1971   Robert Carmichael   Allan Stone 7–6, 7–6, 6–3
1972   Ray Ruffels   John Alexander 6–4, 6–4, 7–6
1973   Onny Parun   Patrick Proisy 4–6, 6–7, 6–2, 6–0, 7–6
1974   Björn Borg   Onny Parun 6–4, 6–3, 6–1
1975   Onny Parun (2)   Brian Fairlie 4–6, 6–4, 6–4, 6–7, 6–4
1976   Onny Parun (3)   Brian Fairlie 6–2, 6–3, 4–6, 6–3
1977   Vijay Amritraj   Tim Wilkison 7–6, 5–7, 6–1, 6–2
1978   Eliot Teltscher   Onny Parun 6–3, 7–5, 6–1
1979   Tim Wilkison   Peter Feigl 6–3, 6–7, 6–4, 2–6, 6–2
1980   John Sadri   Tim Wilkison 6–4, 3–6, 6–3, 6–4
1981   Bill Scanlon   Tim Wilkison 6–7, 6–3, 3–6, 7–6, 6–0
1982   Tim Wilkison (2)   Russell Simpson 6–4, 6–4, 6–4
1983   John Alexander   Russell Simpson 6–4, 6–3, 6–3
1984   Danny Saltz   Chip Hooper 4–6, 6–3, 6–4, 6–4
1985   Chris Lewis   Wally Masur 7–5, 6–0, 2–6, 6–4
1986   Mark Woodforde   Bud Schultz 6–4, 6–3, 3–6, 6–4
1987   Miloslav Mečíř   Michiel Schapers 6–2, 6–3, 6–4
1988   Amos Mansdorf   Ramesh Krishnan 6–3, 6–4
1989   Ramesh Krishnan   Amos Mansdorf 6–4, 6–0
1990   Scott Davis   Andrei Chesnokov 4–6, 6–3, 6–3
1991   Karel Nováček   Jean-Philippe Fleurian 7–6(7–5), 7–6(7–4)
1992   Jaime Yzaga   MaliVai Washington 7–6(8–6), 6–4
1993   Alexander Volkov   MaliVai Washington 7–6(7–2), 6–4
1994   Magnus Gustafsson   Patrick McEnroe 6–4, 6–0
1995   Thomas Enqvist   Chuck Adams 6–2, 6–1
1996   Jiří Novák   Brett Steven 6–4, 6–4
1997   Jonas Björkman   Kenneth Carlsen 7–6, 6–0
1998   Marcelo Ríos   Richard Fromberg 4–6, 6–4, 7–6(7–3)
1999   Sjeng Schalken   Tommy Haas 6–4, 6–4
2000   Magnus Norman   Michael Chang 3–6, 6–3, 7–5
2001   Dominik Hrbatý   Francisco Clavet 6–4, 2–6, 6–3
2002   Greg Rusedski   Jérôme Golmard 6–7, 6–4, 7–5
2003   Gustavo Kuerten   Dominik Hrbatý 6–3, 7–5
2004   Dominik Hrbatý (2)   Rafael Nadal 4–6, 6–2, 7–5
2005   Fernando González   Olivier Rochus 6–4, 6–2
2006   Jarkko Nieminen   Mario Ančić 6–2, 6–2
2007   David Ferrer   Tommy Robredo 6–4, 6–2
2008   Philipp Kohlschreiber   Juan Carlos Ferrero 7–6(7–4), 7–5
2009   Juan Martín del Potro   Sam Querrey 6–4, 6–4
2010   John Isner   Arnaud Clément 6–3, 5–7, 7–6(7–2)
2011   David Ferrer (2)   David Nalbandian 6–3, 6–2
2012   David Ferrer (3)   Olivier Rochus 6–3, 6–4
2013   David Ferrer (4)   Philipp Kohlschreiber 7–6(7–5), 6–1
2014   John Isner (2)   Lu Yen-hsun 7–6(7–4), 7–6(9–7)
2015   Jiří Veselý   Adrian Mannarino 6–3, 6–2
2016   Roberto Bautista Agut   Jack Sock 6–1, 1–0, Ret.
2017   Jack Sock   João Sousa 6–3, 5–7, 6–3
2018   Roberto Bautista Agut (2)   Juan Martín del Potro 6–1, 4–6, 7–5
2019   Tennys Sandgren   Cameron Norrie 6–4, 6–2
2020   Ugo Humbert   Benoît Paire 7–6(7–2), 3–6, 7–6(7–5)
2021 Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic
2022
2023   Richard Gasquet   Cameron Norrie 4–6, 6–4, 6–4
2024   Alejandro Tabilo   Taro Daniel 6–2, 7–5

Men's doubles edit

Year Champions Runners-up Score
1968   Dick Crealy
  Barry Phillips-Moore
1969   Raymond Moore
  Roger Taylor
  Mal Anderson
  Toomas Leius
13–15, 6–3, 8–6, 8–6
1970   Dick Crealy (2)
  Ray Ruffels
1971   Bob Carmichael
  Ray Ruffels
  Brian Fairlie
  Raymond Moore
6–3, 6–7, 6–4, 4–6, 6–3
1972   Bob Carmichael (2)
  Ray Ruffels (2)
1973   Brian Fairlie
  Allan Stone
1974   Syd Ball
  Bob Giltinan
  Ray Ruffels
  Allan Stone
6–1, 6–4
1975   Bob Carmichael (3)
  Ray Ruffels (3)
  Brian Fairlie
  Onny Parun
7–6, Ret.
1976 Not Completed
1977   Chris Lewis
  Russell Simpson
  Peter Langsford
  Jonathan Smith
7–6, 6–4
1978   Chris Lewis (2)
  Russell Simpson (2)
  Rod Frawley
  Karl Meiler
6–1, 7–6
1979   Bernard Mitton
  Kim Warwick
  Andrew Jarrett
  Jonathan Smith
6–3, 2–6, 6–3
1980   Peter Feigl
  Rod Frawley
  John Sadri
  Tim Wilkison
6–2, 7–5
1981   Ferdi Taygan
  Tim Wilkison
  Tony Graham
  Bill Scanlon
7–5, 6–1
1982   Andrew Jarrett
  Jonathan Smith
  Larry Stefanki
  Robert Van't Hof
7–5, 7–6
1983   Chris Lewis (2)
  Russell Simpson (2)
  David Graham
  Laurie Warder
7–6, 6–3
1984   Brian Levine
  John Van Nostrand
  Brad Drewett
  Chip Hooper
7–5, 6–2
1985   John Fitzgerald
  Chris Lewis (3)
  Broderick Dyke
  Wally Masur
7–6, 6–2
1986   Broderick Dyke
  Wally Masur
  Karl Richter
  Rick Rudeen
6–3, 6–4
1987   Kelly Jones
  Brad Pearce
  Carl Limberger
  Mark Woodforde
7–6, 7–6
1988   Marty Davis
  Tim Pawsat
  Sammy Giammalva Jr.
  Jim Grabb
6–3, 3–6, 6–4
1989   Steve Guy
  Shuzo Matsuoka
  John Letts
  Bruce Man-Son-Hing
7–6, 7–6
1990   Kelly Jones (2)
  Robert Van't Hof
  Gilad Bloom
  Paul Haarhuis
7–6, 6–0
1991   Sergio Casal
  Emilio Sánchez
  Grant Connell
  Glenn Michibata
4–6, 6–3, 6–4
1992   Wayne Ferreira
  Jim Grabb
  Grant Connell
  Glenn Michibata
6–4, 6–3
1993   Grant Connell
  Patrick Galbraith
  Alex Antonitsch
  Alexander Volkov
6–3, 7–6
1994   Patrick McEnroe
  Jared Palmer
  Grant Connell
  Patrick Galbraith
6–2, 4–6, 6–4
1995   Grant Connell (2)
  Patrick Galbraith (2)
  Luis Lobo
  Javier Sánchez
6–4, 6–3
1996   Marcos Ondruska
  Jack Waite
  Jonas Björkman
  Brett Steven
W/O
1997   Ellis Ferreira
  Patrick Galbraith (3)
  Rick Leach
  Jonathan Stark
6–4, 4–6, 7–6
1998   Patrick Galbraith (4)
  Brett Steven
  Tom Nijssen
  Jeff Tarango
6–4, 6–2
1999   Jeff Tarango
  Daniel Vacek
  Jiří Novák
  David Rikl
7–5, 7–5
2000   Ellis Ferreira (2)
  Rick Leach
  Olivier Delaître
  Jeff Tarango
7–5, 6–4
2001   Marius Barnard
  Jim Thomas
  David Adams
  Martín García
7–6, 6–4
2002   Jonas Björkman
  Todd Woodbridge
  Martín García
  Cyril Suk
7–6, 7–6
2003   David Adams
  Robbie Koenig
  Tomáš Cibulec
  Leoš Friedl
7–6, 4–6, 6–3
2004   Mahesh Bhupathi
  Fabrice Santoro
  Jiří Novák
  Radek Štěpánek
4–6, 7–5, 6–3
2005   Yves Allegro
  Michael Kohlmann
  Simon Aspelin
  Todd Perry
6–4, 7–6
2006   Andrei Pavel
  Rogier Wassen
  Simon Aspelin
  Todd Perry
6–3, 5–7, [10–4]
2007   Jeff Coetzee
  Rogier Wassen (2)
  Simon Aspelin
  Chris Haggard
6–7, 6–3, [10–2]
2008   Luis Horna
  Juan Mónaco
  Xavier Malisse
  Jürgen Melzer
6–4, 3–6, [10–7]
2009   Martin Damm
  Robert Lindstedt
  Scott Lipsky
  Leander Paes
7–5, 6–4
2010   Marcus Daniell
  Horia Tecău
  Marcelo Melo
  Bruno Soares
7–5, 6–4
2011   Marcel Granollers
  Tommy Robredo
  Johan Brunström
  Stephen Huss
6–4, 7–6(8–6)
2012   Oliver Marach
  Alexander Peya
  František Čermák
  Filip Polášek
6–3, 6–2
2013   Colin Fleming
  Bruno Soares
  Johan Brunström
  Frederik Nielsen
7–6(7–1), 7–6(7–2)
2014   Julian Knowle
  Marcelo Melo
  Alexander Peya
  Bruno Soares
4–6, 6–3, [10–5]
2015   Raven Klaasen
  Leander Paes
  Dominic Inglot
  Florin Mergea
7–6(7–1), 6–4
2016   Mate Pavić
  Michael Venus
  Eric Butorac
  Scott Lipsky
7–5, 6–4
2017   Marcin Matkowski
  Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi
  Jonathan Erlich
  Scott Lipsky
1–6, 6–2, [10–3]
2018   Oliver Marach (2)
  Mate Pavić (2)
  Max Mirnyi
  Philipp Oswald
6–4, 5–7, [10–7]
2019   Ben McLachlan
  Jan-Lennard Struff
  Raven Klaasen
  Michael Venus
6–3, 6–4
2020   Luke Bambridge
  Ben McLachlan (2)
  Marcus Daniell
  Philipp Oswald
7–6(7–3), 6–3
2021 Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic
2022
2023   Nikola Mektić
  Mate Pavić (3)
  Nathaniel Lammons
  Jackson Withrow
6–4, 6–7(5–7), [10–6]
2024   Nikola Mektić (2)
  Wesley Koolhof
  Marcel Granollers
  Horacio Zeballos
6–3, 6–7(5–7), [10–7]

See also edit

Notes edit

  1. ^ Currently played on Plexicushion.

References edit

  1. ^ "2021 ASB Classic cancelled". Stuff. 6 October 2020. Archived from the original on 20 October 2021. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
  2. ^ "Tennis: ASB Classic cancelled for second straight year". NZ Herald-NZ. Archived from the original on 20 October 2022. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
  3. ^ "ASB Classic to return to Auckland after 2-year hiatus". 1 News. 7 June 2022. Archived from the original on 2 January 2023. Retrieved 23 June 2022.
  4. ^ Romanos, Joseph (5 September 2013). "Tennis: Consolidation, 1920s to 1940s". Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand. Ministry for Culture and Heritage, New Zealand. Archived from the original on 4 April 2023. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
  5. ^ Romanos (2013)
  6. ^ Joseph Romanos (8 January 2005). "Our tennis open". NOTED.co.nz. New Zealand Listener. Archived from the original on 22 December 2015. Retrieved 21 August 2012.
  7. ^ "Tennis: Net profits the name of the game". New Zealand Herald. 5 January 2002.
  8. ^ "ATP and WTA Auckland events merge". Tennisnews.com. 28 August 2015. Archived from the original on 20 October 2021. Retrieved 4 January 2016.
  9. ^ "2021 ASB Classic cancelled". Stuff. 6 October 2020. Archived from the original on 20 October 2021. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
  10. ^ "Tennis: ASB Classic cancelled for second straight year". NZ Herald-NZ. Archived from the original on 20 October 2022. Retrieved 30 June 2021.

External links edit

36°51′14″S 174°46′23″E / 36.854°S 174.773°E / -36.854; 174.773