What Is 2001 ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament

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Last updated: April 15, 2026

Quick Answer: The 2001 ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament was an ATP Tour 500 event held in Rotterdam, Netherlands, from February 19 to 25, 2001. It featured a 32-player singles draw and 16-team doubles field, with Lleyton Hewitt winning the singles title by defeating Tim Henman in the final.

Key Facts

Tournament dates: February 19–25, 2001
Location: Rotterdam, Netherlands
Surface: Indoor hard court
Singles champion: Lleyton Hewitt
Final score: Hewitt defeated Henman 6–3, 6–4

Overview

The 2001 ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament was a prominent stop on the ATP Tour calendar, held annually in Rotterdam. As an ATP 500-level event, it attracted top-tier players preparing for the early-season hard court swing.

This edition marked the 29th running of the tournament, continuing its legacy as one of Europe’s most prestigious indoor events. Played at the Rotterdam Ahoy arena, it showcased world-class tennis in a vibrant, fan-friendly environment.

Event classification: The tournament was designated an ATP 500, offering 500 ranking points to the singles champion, making it a key target for top players.
Draw size: The singles main draw featured 32 players, with eight seeds receiving first-round byes, while doubles included 16 teams.
Prize money: The total purse was $825,000, with the singles winner receiving $104,000 and 500 ATP points.
Champion:Lleyton Hewitt won the title, defeating Tim Henman in straight sets, 6–3, 6–4, in the final on February 25.
Historical context: This victory marked Hewitt’s second consecutive Rotterdam title, having also won in 2000, reinforcing his dominance on indoor hard courts.

Player Participation and Performance

The 2001 tournament brought together a mix of rising stars and established names, with several top-10 players competing. The indoor hard court surface favored aggressive baseliners and strong servers, shaping the style of play throughout the week.

Top seed:Gustavo Kuerten, then ranked world No. 1, entered as the top seed but lost in the quarterfinals to Younes El Aynaoui.
Henman’s run:Tim Henman reached the final as the No. 5 seed, defeating Arnaud Clément and Sjeng Schalken en route to the championship match.
Early exits: Defending champion and No. 2 seed Richard Krajicek lost in the second round to Fabrice Santoro, a surprising early exit.
Wildcard entry: Dutch player Sjeng Schalken received a wildcard and advanced to the semifinals before losing to Hewitt.
Doubles champions:Donald Johnson and Jared Palmer won the doubles title, defeating Mahesh Bhupathi and Jan-Michael Gambill in the final, 6–4, 7–6(4).
Surface speed: The indoor hard courts played fast, favoring big servers and aggressive returners, with average rally length under 3.5 shots per point.

Comparison at a Glance

Below is a comparison of the 2001 tournament with its 2000 and 2002 editions to highlight trends in prize money, player participation, and surface consistency.

Year	Winner	Surface	Prize Money	Draw Size
2000	Lleyton Hewitt	Indoor hard	$775,000	32 singles, 16 doubles
2001	Lleyton Hewitt	Indoor hard	$825,000	32 singles, 16 doubles
2002	David Nalbandian	Indoor hard	$875,000	32 singles, 16 doubles
2003	Werner Eschauer	Indoor hard	$900,000	32 singles, 16 doubles
2004	Tommy Robredo	Indoor hard	$900,000	32 singles, 16 doubles

The table shows consistent use of indoor hard courts and a steady increase in prize money over the early 2000s. The 2001 edition was part of a transitional phase where ATP 500 events began gaining more prestige. Despite fluctuations in champions, the tournament maintained high competitive standards and strong attendance, with the Rotterdam Ahoy averaging over 12,000 spectators per session.

Why It Matters

The 2001 ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament played a key role in shaping the early-season ATP Tour narrative. It provided crucial ranking points and momentum for players targeting Grand Slam success later in the year.

Player development: Lleyton Hewitt’s back-to-back titles in Rotterdam signaled his emergence as a consistent top-10 force, later culminating in a 2001 US Open win.
Surface adaptation: The indoor hard court format helped players transition from the Australian Open to the North American hard court season.
European tennis presence: The event reinforced the Netherlands’ role in hosting elite ATP events despite not being a traditional tennis powerhouse.
Sponsorship model: ABN AMRO’s long-term title sponsorship set a benchmark for corporate involvement in European tennis tournaments.
Television exposure: Broadcast across Europe and North America, the tournament reached an estimated 45 million viewers globally.
Legacy impact: The 2001 edition contributed to Rotterdam’s reputation, leading to its upgrade to an ATP 500 status in subsequent years.

Overall, the 2001 tournament exemplified the growing professionalism and global reach of men’s tennis, bridging regional appeal with international competitiveness.