The Almaty Open, held in October at Almaty Arena, has been officially recognized as the ATP 250 Tournament of the Year, the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) announced, according to infohub.kz.
The hard-court event in Almaty received this honor for the first time. Russian tennis player Daniil Medvedev won the title for the second consecutive year.
The ATP particularly noted that the organizers "continue to improve conditions for tennis players," focusing on catering and infrastructure for match preparation.
The association highlighted the addition of a new open terrace and the expansion of the players' dining area to 300 square meters. It was noted that players' families could use VIP services, while the athletes themselves received "comfortable locker rooms and lounge areas, three temporary practice courts connected by an indoor walkway, and accommodation in a hotel with a wellness center overlooking the Zailiysky Alatau mountains."
Yuri Polsky, head of the Almaty Open organizing committee, said the award "will inspire the entire team to work with even greater dedication on the further development of the tournament."
"It will also serve as important confirmation for our partners and sponsors. We are moving in the right direction, and this creates a solid foundation for expanding our cooperation," Polsky emphasized.
In the ATP 1000 category, the tournament in Shanghai (China) received a similar award, and among ATP 500 events, the competition in Doha (Qatar) was honored. These tournaments are also played on hard courts.