So Nice in Nice

New Nice Event To Replace Kitzbuhel

The ATP has announced that the Kitzbuhel, Austria event will be replaced in 2010 by a new World Tour 250 series event to be held at the clay courts of the Nice Lawn Tennis Club the week prior to Roland Garros.
“We are delighted to announce the new event in Nice,” said Laurent Delanney, ATP Chief Executive Officer – Europe. “Nice staged a popular ATP World Tour event for many years and it is great to be able to return there after a 15 year absence. Tennis has a huge following in France and many French players compete at the highest level on the ATP World Tour.”
The Nice event becomes the fifth ATP World Tour event in France after Marseille, Metz, Lyon and Paris. Nice had held an ATP World Tour event for several years until 1995. It may also mean a little less traveling for those players who want to stay within France before Roland Garros.