The ATP Tour offers some spectacular backdrops as it goes from location to location around the globe but the location of the Swedish Open, with the Baltic Sea stretching out from the town of Bastad to the horizon, is one of the most picturesque on the tour. And to cap it all, the event has been voted by the players as ATP 250 Tournament of the Year nine consecutive times from 2002 through to 2010. 

Its popularity with the players explains why, despite a fairly obscure location on the calendar, it regularly attracts several of the world’s top ten. Past winners include Rafa Nadal, David Ferrer, Robin Soderling and former world number two Magnus Norman.

So what makes Bastad so popular? For a start it’s got considerable heritage having been held every year since 1948 plus in recent years the event has ploughed considerable investments into improving the venue and facilities. Plus it’s located just a few hundred yards from both the beach and local nightclub. 

“To receive this acknowledgment year after year is a tribute to our outstanding organization. Every year we try to add something new and constantly develop the tournament. There is no option to sit still and always room for improvement in this competitive environment. Our success comes thanks to a dedicated and highly motivated organization and a passion for the game,” tournament director Thomas Wallen commented in 2010.         

Not only that but the Swedes are passionate about their tennis, as you would expect with their heritage, and over the past twenty years they have been rewarded with no less than 8 champions.

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