2009 ATP World Tour Sets Sail with Help From Nadal & Federer

Doha, Qatar. - Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer today helped launch the 2009 ATP World Tour inspectacular fashion with a unique game of tennis aboard a traditional Arabian Dhow in Doha Bay.

On a specially designed onboard court floating in the Persian Gulf, the special match, between the world's two best players, also marked the start of the year long race to crown the official 2009 ATP World Tour Champion.

Nadal and Federer are the top two seeds at the Qatar ExxonMobil Open 2009 played in Doha from January 5-10. Nadal, world No. 1 and reigning ATP World Tour Champion said:"2008 was a fantastic year for me, winning so many big titles and becoming the ATP World Tour Champion. It was an honor to replace Roger who for me is the best tennis player ever. I will give everything again to try and win every match and give my best to improve my game in 2009."The 2009 ATP World Tour features a number of changes designed to make the sport more fan friendly, including a new calendar schedule and three new tiers of ATP World Tour events:

• ATP World Tour Masters 1000
• ATP World Tour 500
• ATP World Tour 250

The new category names reflect the number of South African Airways 2009 ATP Rankings points available to the tournament winner and at a stroke help fans better understand how tournaments relate to each other and to the 2009 ranking table.

Other changes to the ATP World Tour, the largest since the Tour's inception in 1990, include record levels of prize money and a new revenue sharing programme for players, $1 billion of investment into the sport and a new calendar designed to help players plan a healthier playing schedule. A new ATP World Tour brand has also been introduced following over two years of extensive fan research globally and is designed to help make the sport more appealing to new fans.

Phil Anderton, ATP Chief Marketing Officer said: "Having the world's two best players in Rafa and Roger help launch the new 2009 ATP World Tour in such spectacular fashion is very apt. Today's launch marks the start of an exciting new chapter in the ATP's history with a number of wide reaching and ambitious changes introduced to help build on our sport's undoubted global popularity. With 63 events in over 30 countries, the ATP World Tour is a truly global sporting event featuring some of the world's greatest and most popular athletes and this week's tournaments in Doha, Chennai and Brisbane are the first in what will be an exceptionally exciting season's race to become the 2009 ATP World Tour Champion."

Including this week's three season opening ATP World Tour 250 events in Doha, Chennai and Brisbane, the 2009 ATP World Tour will feature 63 tournaments in over 30 countries and will conclude in November at the new season's ending climax - the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals. To be held for the first time in London's iconic O2 arena, the event will also feature, at its conclusion, a season ending awards ceremony where the 2009 ATP World Tour Champion will be officially crowned.