Titles

Major tennis tournaments are some of the hottest tickets in sport, and offer fans the opportunity to see the world’s best tennis players live on the biggest stages. Along with the tennis action, there’s also a lot of history and tradition, unique to each tournament.

What are the Major Tennis Tournaments?

The 8 major Major Tennis Tournaments are:

• Wimbledon;
• US Open;
• Australian Open;
• French Open;
• Summer Games Tennis Tournament;
• BNP Paribas Open;
• WTP Finals;
• ATP Finals.

The Grand Slam Tournaments in tennis are:

• Wimbledon;
• US Open;
• Australian Open;
• French Open.

The Professional Tournaments in tennis are:

• The Summer Games;
• BNP Paribas Open;
• ATP Finals;
• WTA Finals.

Which Top Tennis Tournament is the most prestigious?

Most people would agree that Wimbledon is the most prestigious tennis tournament. Of the four Grand Slam tournaments in professional tennis (Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon, and the US Open), Wimbledon always seems to attract the most attention. It seems to be a favorite major tennis tournament of the players too; American Sam Querrey notably referred to it as the best tournament, comparing it to golf’s iconic Masters.

Wimbledon

It only makes sense to start the list of top tennis tournaments with the most famous (and prestigious) tennis tournament in the world. Wimbledon dates back to the year 1877 when the first tournament was played on the grass lawns of the All England Club just outside of London, England.

Wimbledon is still played on grass courts, one of many long-standing traditions of this historic tournament. Appearances by the Royal Family (and other celebrities), fresh strawberries and cream, and the famous all-white dress code are other traditions that have become associated with the tournament.

One of the four major tennis tournaments (also known as Grand Slams), Wimbledon takes place over two weeks in late June/early July. It attracts a long list of the best tennis players in the world and has hosted some of the sport’s most iconic matches on the All England Club’s famous Centre Court.

US Open

Usually the last Grand Slam of the season, the US Open is also the most famous professional US tennis tournament. The US Open was first played in 1881 as the US National Championship. What makes it one of the best tennis tournaments to attend? Well for starters, it offers a different and unique atmosphere than the other majors. It’s lively, fun, and exuberant, just like its host city, New York.

This top tennis tournament takes place at the US National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, NY, though many fans will stay in Manhattan and take advantage of the city’s incredible dining, shopping, and entertainment when they’re not checking out the tennis. Just like Wimbledon, you’ll find no shortage of celebrity presence at the US Open.

The US Open plays out each year in late August/early September dates and it’s the perfect way to wrap up the summer.

Australian Open

The first of the four major tennis tournaments on the calendar, the Australian Open is a bucket list event for fans around the world. It’s the largest annual sporting event in the Southern hemisphere and has taken place at Melbourne Park since 1988, though the tournament dates back to 1905.

The Australian Open is played on a hard-court surface.

As the first Grand Slam of the year, the 2021 Australian Open Tennis dates are January 18-31, excitement is always high for this famous Melbourne tennis event and as one of the highest attended, it definitely makes the list of best tennis tournaments.

French Open

The French Open is different from the other major tennis tournaments in that it is the only one played on clay courts. Clay is known to be a difficult surface to play on, due to the slower moving ball.

One of the best parts about the French Open is the amazing city of Paris. There’s a reason it is regarded as one of the most beautiful cities in the world. With its charming cafés, amazing food, great hotels, and stunning architecture, it makes an ideal backdrop for one of the best tennis tournaments in the world.

With a history dating back 128 years, this tournament has been home to hundreds of memorable moments.

The Summer Games

The Summer Games is unique in that it’s more than just a major tennis tournament. The best thing about the Summer Games tennis tournament is that fans can take in so many other incredible sporting events in one city surrounded by an incomparable atmosphere.

Tennis made its first Summer Games appearance at the inaugural event in 1896 but was later dropped in 1924. It returned in 1988 and has remained in the lineup ever since.

BNP Paribas Open

There are many reasons to consider the BNP Paribas Open one of the top tennis tournaments. The first is, of course, the tennis itself. This major tennis tournament attracts the top players in the world, and is a favorite with fans as well.

Another draw of the BNP Paribas Open is its location. The tournament refers to itself as “Tennis Paradise” and it’s hard to argue that. The event takes place in Indian Wells, in the Palm Springs area of California. This stunning tourist destination offers luxury resorts, world-class golf, incredible shopping and dining, high-end spas, and plenty to appease the nature lovers. It also boasts wonderful weather, the perfect spot for a late winter getaway.

ATP Finals

The ATP Finals are another top tennis tournament. The ATP (Association of Tennis Professionals) Finals date back to 1970, though it has gone through a few different names and versions since then.

The ATP Finals follow a different format than the Grand Slams, which use a knock-out/bracket system. This event follows a group stage format. Each player is put into a group of four and plays each other player in their group. The top two from each group move on to a semi-final and then the championship final match.

WTA Finals

The professional women have their own major tournament to cap off their season. The Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) Tour concludes with the WTA Finals. Similar to the ATP Finals, the tournament is played as a group-stage/round-robin format, followed by the semi-finals and finals.