The Power Horse Cup might be the newest event to hit the ATP Tour, but it’s a name that ought to ring bells among tennis fans.
The event held at the Rochusclub in Düsseldorf between the 19th and 25th of May, is now an ATP World Tour 250 Tournament – a singles event for men. For the previous two years, though, the Power Horse Cup was the latest incarnation of the World Team Cup, the team event dating back to 1979.
The evolution into a men’s singles event is, to put it mildly, a big deal. Coming the week before the French Open, the clay-court tournament is the last warm-up before the sole clay-court Grand Slam of the season – and could prove a vital barometer for players in the top 50 looking to topple a top seed in Paris.
The move came about when former pro Rainer Schuettler, who fought to “keep the tournament at this wonderful venue at all costs”,andmanager Ion Tiriac acquired the license for the tournament, which the Rochus Club, under the management of Dietloff von Arnim, leased.
Arnmin, now Power Horse Cup Tournament Director, is more than pleased with the coup.“We are delighted to continue with the strong tradition of ATP tournaments in Düsseldorf,” he said. “We welcome the arrival of an ATP 250 tournament at Rochusclub.”
The draw involves 28 players in singles, 16 teams in the doubles, all of whom are competing for a prize pot of €410,200.
Already signed up for the inaugural singles event is Janko Tipsarevic, the first Top 10 player to compete at the Power Horse Cup.
What: Power Horse Cup
Where: Rochusclub, Düsseldorf
When: May 19th-26th
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