Ponte Vedra Beach (USA), July 30: Major changes to accomodate the 2004 Athens Olympics tennis competition were part of the ATP tour 2004 tournament schedule that begins on January 5 in Chennai, Doha and Adelaide. An enchanced Asian tour schedule includes returning events in Shanghai and Tokyo and new events in Bangkok and Beijing, which will host the inaugural international series event on the week of September 13, 2004. The 2004 Olympic Tennis Tournament will be contested August 15-22. The games opening weekend and start of tennis will be opposite an event in Sopot, Poland, while the Washington event will be opposite the full week of Olympic tennis.
Long Island, the traditional final tune up the week before the US Open, will be played as usual starting August 23 with the year's final Grand Slam event starting one week later at nearby flushing meadows. ATP champions race and entry ranking points will be awarded at the Olympics, part of a 65-event 2004 schedule in 31 nations.

The ATP season concludes at the tennis masters cup in Houston that begin on November 13.

The Olympics also forced date changes in tennis masters series events. Both Canada and Cincinnati will host their events one week earlier. The Los Angeles event will be played two weeks earlier than normal.

Bureau Report