After months of speculation, Paris Masters officially announced to relocate to La Defense Arena in 2025

With this new development, the organizers feel that it will be easier for to schedule matches.

After months of speculation, Paris Masters officially announced to relocate to La Defense Arena in 2025

La Defense Arena will be the new home to Paris Masters (Image Credits: Paris2024.org)

Gilles Moretton, the President of the French Tennis Federation, has announced that the Rolex Paris Masters 1000 tournament will move to La Défense Arena beginning in 2025. The Bercy Arena, which has always been a home to the Paris tournament, has now been deemed unsuitable for the progress of the highly anticipated competition.

The new Paris Masters arena, which opened in October 2017, was developed by the French Top 14 rugby club Racing 9, replacing Stade Olympique Yves du-Manior as its new home. In addition, the La Défense Arena, which can accommodate five tennis courts, also welcomes over 23,000 spectators, a substantial increase in Bercy’s 16,800 capacity. It will be the first time the Paris tournament will be held indoors.

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During last year’s tournament, Jannik Sinner, the 2024 Australian Open champion, had to withdraw at the quarterfinals due to lack of rest, after ending his round of 16 game at 2:37 pm. With this new development, the organizers said that it will be easier for players and in compliance with ATP requirements for match scheduling in tournaments.

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The FFT signed a 10-year deal for the event to be staged at the La Defense Arena. 

It is one of the ATP's most prestigious tournaments, and we are proud that over the years it has become a key event on the French and international tennis scene.
FFT president Gilles Moretton (H/T: Le Monde with AFP)

ATP chairman Andrea Gaudenzi, on his part, added:

France is a key nation for professional tennis and today's announcement further strengthens one of our biggest events on the ATP Tour--We are continually looking for opportunities for our tournaments to grow, and to provide better experiences for our players, and most importantly the fans.

The Rolex Paris Masters remains one of the nine most important tournaments on the ATP Tour and has been hosted in Bercy since 1986. Before the ATP chairman announced the new venue, there were rumors of a new deal, especially a probable link with Saudi Arabia.

Can the changed venue of the Paris Masters stop the poor scheduling?

In 2022, the tournament organizers were heavily criticized for rushing the process of renovation of the Berce-Percy venue. However, it was settled last year. Another issue arose with poor scheduling and timing because the Arena had only Court 1 and Court 2, making it difficult for players to rest for the next match after each grueling contest.

Paris Masters
Paris Masters logo (Via official site)

48 players always qualify for the ATP Masters and the competition has a week timeline. From the first round to the finals.

However, will La Defense Arena, with 5 courts, be enough to make sure players compete and do not withdraw due to timing? Also, does the Arena being home to a Rugby club not make the conditions unfavorable to players? These are some important questions that need clarity at the earliest.

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