APTA Tour Q&A

APTA Tour Q & A

How did the new Tour evolve?

The APTA Board and many top-level players discussed the importance of featuring paddle’s major tournaments and allowing players to plan their calendars at the beginning of the season. The new Tour structure ensures that Grand Prix tournaments will be the major and top weighted events with prize money and includes a season-long race for the APTA Cup, which offers even more prize money. The APTA Tour Grand Prix and non-Grand Prix Tour events present an opportunity for most regions to highlight their platform tennis community and entice the top players to travel for quality tournaments and big points.

How are the tournaments chosen?

The APTA contacts tournament directors and pros and requests applications (RFPs) to hold either Grand Prix or non-Grand Prix Tour tournaments. The RFPs are reviewed by the Selection Committee, which makes recommendations to the APTA Board for approval.

What is the criteria?

Historical weighting of tournament (strength of field)
Size of field; (larger tournaments that can include additional draws preferred; tournament “vibe”)
Prize money (for Grand Prix events)
Geographical balance
Gender balance
Date flexibility (to space out GPs and Tour events as best as possible)

What is the prize money offered?

1) All Grand Prix tournaments will offer at least $10,000 in prize money
2) APTA Tour Non-Grand Prix tournaments may have prize money
3) The APTA Cup will offer even more prize money to the top six men’s and women’s point winners

More Tour facts

1) All Grand Prix events will be weighted 4.25
2) The men’s and women’s players with the best 6 out of 16 results will be awarded the APTA Cup
3) The APTA will be Live Streaming 12 of the Tour events on its YouTube channel
4) The rating for all Non Grand Prix Tour events will be capped at 4.0