Kingfisher Airlines Tennis Open

Kingfisher Airlines Tennis Open is an annual tennis tournament that is played on outdoor hard courts. A part of the International Series of the ATP Tour, the event was first initiated in the year 1996. After a decade, the event came to India. The inaugural session of the Kingfisher Airlines Tennis Open was held in 2006 in Mumbai, the financial capital of India. In 2007 as well, Mumbai became the preferred location for the event. To know more about the history of the Kingfisher Airlines Tennis Open and its event held in India, browse through the following lines.

History Of Kingfisher Airlines Tennis Open
Kingfisher Airlines Tennis Open was first initiated in the year 1996 in the city of Shanghai, in People's Republic of China. It was a part of the ATP World Series and was held in the indoor carpet courts. Started as a men's only tournament, this was the second new tournament started by the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) in Asia in three years after the Beijing Open, which started in 1993. During the first four years, Kingfisher Airlines Tennis Open saw the likes of Michael Chang, Goran Ivanisevic, Marcelo Rios and Magnus Norman reaching the finals.

It was in 2000 that the Tier IV Women's Tennis Association (WTA) moved from its traditional venue Beijing to Shanghai. This move allowed the city to hold both the ATP event, now part of the International Series, and the WTA event. By 2004, ATP was increasing its presence, having brought the Tennis Masters Cup to Shanghai in 2002. While they were working on moving several events to different new locations, the ATP and WTA Shanghai tournaments both relocated. The men's tournament shifted base to Ho Chi Minh City, in Vietnam and the women's, presently a Tier II tournament, returned to Beijing.

Kingfisher Airlines Tennis Open In India
It was after the 2005 edition that the event once again shifted base and this time the venue chosen was India. Mumbai became the second city in India, only after Chennai, to host an ATP tournament, when the ATP Board of Directors approved a request to move the $380,000 prize money worth Vietnam Open tournament from Ho Chi Minh City to Mumbai. In 2006, the Kingfisher Airlines Tennis Open tournament was held from September 25 to October 2. While the singles trophy was lifted by Dmitry Tursunov, Mario Ancic and Mahesh Bhupathi were credited with the Men's Doubles title.

In 2007, the 11th edition of the Kingfisher Airlines Tennis Open was played on outdoor hard courts in Mumbai. A part of the International Series of the 2007 ATP Tour, the event was held from September 24 to 30. While the Wimbledon semifinalist and Estoril runner-up, Richard Gasquet won the Men's Singles, Robert Lindstedt and Jarkko Nieminen lifted the Men's Doubles trophy. After the successful completion of the 11th edition of Kingfisher Airlines Tennis Open, the venue for the next edition was finalized as Bangalore. However, due to security fears, the first Bangalore Open was consequently postponed to the 2009 season.