About tounament
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History
History of the Tournament
Many changes had happened for the 15 years of the International tennis tournament St. Petersburg Open history: the prize fund increased from $300 000 to $1 000 000, new winners were awarded, new partners appeared... Only one thing remained - the energy and passion for sport in everything connected with the tournament.
The St. Petersburg Open history began in 1994 when the first International tennis tournament ATP St. Petersburg Open was organized for the first time in St. Petersburg. Since the first years of the tournament development the city's administration, mass-media and residents of the Northern Capital used to support it. Heads and owners of the leading companies of St. Petersburg and Russia, well-known politicians, public figures, representatives of foreign countries - all of them are usual guests and spectators of the competition. Moreover, the Governor of St. Petersburg, Valentina Matvienko is the Head of the tournament's Organizing Committee.The tremendous popularity of St. Petersburg Open is confirmed by numerous researches - according to the booking's total about 300 000 people attended the matches between 2002 and 2006. Besides that, millions of spectators all over the world watched the tournament matches on television as they are always broadcasted by main Russian and world TV-channels.
The high organizational level of St. Petersburg Open was appreciated within Russia and abroad. Among its winners are such famous athletes as Yevgeny Kafelnikov, Magnus Gustafsson, Thomas Johansson, Richard Krajicek, Marc Rosset, Marat Safin, Sebastien Grosjean, Gustavo Kuerten, Mikhail Youzhny, Mario Ancic.
At the ATP Board of Directors council which took place in London during the "Grand Slam - Wimbledon" the St. Petersburg Open-2006 was presented one more ATP award of excellence in "Player Services" nomination. This prize is usually awarded to the tournament for the best service for players, for the most comfortable conditions of players' accommodation and etc. The tournament also has ATP awards in other nominations such as "Visitors Interest" (1999), "Best Advertising and Marketing Efforts" (2001), "Best Tournament Organization" (2002), Best Arena Design (2003, 2005).
