TENN360 | THE FAN'S GUIDE TO THE TOUR
tennis is more than the score.
ROTTERDAM OPEN
Tour
ATP
Date of event
6-14 Feb 2027
Location
Rotterdam
Surface
Hard indoor
Website
Singles Title
A De Minaur
Doubles Title
S Bolelli/A Vavassori
Level
500
TENN360 INSIGHT:
Rotterdam knows how to do indoor tennis.
The ABN AMRO Open has been part of the calendar since 1974, and generations of great players have walked onto the court at Rotterdam Ahoy. It has history, but it doesn't feel stuck in it.
This is a proper ATP 500: big names, fast indoor hard courts and a crowd that knows its tennis.
But there is something else I like.
It feels like a tournament designed for people who actually came to watch tennis.
Close to the action, plenty happening around the courts and Rotterdam itself just outside the door.
I'd go for a lower-level side-on seat.
The main court is large, but the 15,000-seat configuration still gives it that proper big-tournament atmosphere.
Side-on is my preference because you can see the whole court and really appreciate the speed of indoor tennis.
If you want atmosphere, I'd also look at seats around the lower corners rather than automatically choosing the most expensive courtside option.
And here's the important bit:
Don't assume your Centre Court seat is where you'll have your best moment.
The smaller courts can get you much closer to the players.
Sometimes watching a good match from a few rows away beats watching a famous player from the back of an enormous arena.
Very good.
For an ATP 500 of this size, Rotterdam does a particularly good job of putting fans close to the tennis.
There are multiple courts and dedicated practice courts within the Ahoy complex, and the tournament's own visitor material makes a big deal of seeing the world's best players up close.
I'd arrive early and find the practice courts first.
Then explore the smaller courts.
You may not get the same access you would at a tiny 250, but you have a much better chance of seeing top players close-up than you might expect from a tournament with such a large Centre Court.
And if you see someone practising who you really want to watch?
Stay.
The schedule can wait.
I'd go if you want a proper European indoor tennis experience.
This is a step up from the smaller ATP 250s.
The field is deeper, the atmosphere is bigger and the history gives the tournament a sense of occasion.
I'd also go if you love fast tennis.
Indoor hard courts can produce wonderfully clean ball-striking, quick points and very little interference from the weather.
And if you're a tennis-history person, this one has plenty to keep you interested.
Federer, Borg, Connors, Becker, Lendl, Murray...
The list of names connected with Rotterdam is rather good.
I'd arrive early and treat the ticket as an invitation to spend the whole day there.
Don't just turn up for your Centre Court match.
The tournament stretches across the Ahoy complex, with several courts, practice courts, food, shops and fan activities. There are even clinics and player meet-and-greets.
I'd wander around before settling into my seat.
Watch a practice.
Find a smaller-court match.
Have something to eat.
Then go into Centre Court for the big one.
And if you're there for several days, don't automatically save your money for the weekend.
A weekday session can be brilliant.
Less frantic, plenty of tennis and more opportunity to explore.
Absolutely not.
This is one of Rotterdam's great advantages.
Indoor tennis in February means you can forget about sunburn, shade and trying to work out whether your seat is about to become unbearably hot.
Outside, Rotterdam may be doing whatever February in the Netherlands chooses to do.
Inside, the tennis carries on.
I'd just remember that you are likely to leave the arena into cold weather.
So bring the coat.
Excellent.
Rotterdam Ahoy is around five minutes on foot from the nearest metro and bus stops, and the venue is very well connected to the rest of Rotterdam.
I'd use public transport.
There is really no need to make parking part of your tennis experience when the metro is so convenient.
And if you're staying in central Rotterdam, getting to Ahoy is straightforward.
That is another thing I like about Rotterdam.
You can have breakfast in the city, take the metro to the tennis, spend the day watching world-class players and be back in the centre for dinner without turning the journey into an expedition.
I'd skip it if your perfect tennis tournament involves sunshine, grass and wandering around outdoor courts with a coffee in your hand.
This is February in Rotterdam.
You have been warned.
I'd also skip it if you want a tiny, intimate tournament where you can wander in and out of the venue without much planning.
Rotterdam is bigger.
Busier.
More of an event.
If you're travelling specifically for one player, wait for the draw before booking everything.
And if your play is a clay court specialist you probably won't find him here as it is highly likely he will be in South America by now.
Power in Numbers
32
Single Draws
15,800
Centre court seat
7
Courts