The Almaty Open, which has just celebrated its fifth edition, has been recognized by the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) with a Standards of Excellence Award, securing its position as one of the most well-respected tournaments in the ATP 250 category. Thanks to the efforts of the Kazakhstan Tennis Federation, tennis in Kazakhstan has taken another progressive step forward.
Photo: Kazakhstan Tennis Federation
Almaty Open receives top award
The receipt of such an award is wholly reflective of the success of the tournament. The achievement is based on several categories, including the highest player ratings across organization, playing conditions, and service quality.
Organisers have been able to create a high-value tournament for both players and supporters alike, reaffirming the commitment to meet and exceed the ATP’s standards. Almaty was one of three tournaments to be awarded this year in the Asia-Pacific region, alongside Dubai (ATP 500) and Shanghai (ATP1000). And, as an impressive distinction, Almaty is the only ATP 250 event in the CIS.
Praise for ‘long-term strategy’ of Bulat Utemuratov
The head of the ATP 250 Almaty Open Organizing committee and Vice President of the Kazakhstan Tennis Federation, Yuri Polskiy, said: “We are delighted to receive such a prestigious award from the ATP for the first time. This achievement reflects our continued commitment to providing the highest level of sporting experiences for both players and fans. The tournament’s standards are part of a long-term strategy by our President, Bulat Utemuratov, whose goal is to elevate the Almaty Open to ATP 500 status. This will attract more world-class tennis stars to Kazakhstan and further boost the sport’s popularity and development nationwide.”
Winning an ATP 250 tournament grants the champion 250 ranking points. Therefore, any potential move to gain ATP 500 status would boost Kazakhstan’s reputation even further – and has the potential to frequently bring household names back to Kazakhstan’s largest city. Former world number one Daniil Medvedev claimed the title here last month.
The award is a testament to Kazakhstan’s growing presence in the tennis world. The Federation is now aiming to cement Astana’s place on the tennis calendar, and successes such as these could serve to attract more superstars and fans from across the globe.
SOURCE: https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/almaty-open-receives-prestigious-atp-standards-of-excellence-award-302611512.html?tc=eml_cleartime
