What does 'ATP' stand for in men's professional tennis?

‘ATP’ stands for the Association of Tennis Professionals in men’s professional tennis.

The organization was formed in 1972 by leading male players who wanted a stronger collective voice in the sport. It helped represent players’ interests and contributed to the development of a more unified professional circuit. The ATP later became closely associated with tournament rankings, prize-money events, and the administration of elite men’s tennis.

The acronym is sometimes confused with the ATP Tour, which refers to the tournament circuit operated under the ATP umbrella. “Association of Tennis Players” sounds plausible but is not the organization’s official name. The women’s professional organization is the Women’s Tennis Association, or WTA.

A related historical milestone came in 1990, when the ATP took over the men’s professional tour structure. The circuit has since included major tournaments such as the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon, and US Open, although those Grand Slam events are not themselves ATP-owned.