TENN360 | THE FAN'S GUIDE TO THE TOUR
tennis is more than the score.
ALMATY OPEN
Tour
ATP
Date of event
19-25 Oct 2026
Location
Almaty
Surface
Hard indoor
Singles Title
D Medvedev
Doubles Title
T Arribagé/A Olivetti
Level
250
TENN360 INSIGHT:
There is something rather appealing about an ATP tournament that feels like it is still creating its own identity.
The Almaty Open moved from Astana to Kazakhstan's largest city in 2024, bringing ATP tennis to a part of the world that doesn't exactly get overloaded with top-level tournaments. And rather than making it all about tennis, Almaty has turned the event into something closer to a festival — with music, food, fan activities and entertainment around the matches.
The tournament is played at Almaty Arena, which has been transformed into an indoor tennis venue for the event. That immediately gives you one major advantage: there is no worrying about rain, wind or roasting yourself in the afternoon sun.
I'd choose a side-on seat as close to the court as your budget allows.
Because this is an indoor arena rather than a giant outdoor tennis stadium, the atmosphere can feel much more concentrated. You are close enough to hear the ball properly, and the crowd noise has nowhere particularly far to escape.
For the evening sessions, I'd especially favour a lower section on the side.
You get the best combination of atmosphere and tennis-viewing without having to pay for a seat simply because it has the word "VIP" attached to it.
And if the ticket is inexpensive enough to tempt you into going more than once?
Do it.
Excellent.
This is one of the things that makes Almaty particularly interesting for fans.
The tournament actually advertises organised autograph sessions, where players meet fans, take photographs and sign memorabilia. That is much better than simply hoping to catch somebody walking past a barrier.
The indoor arena setting also gives the event a more concentrated feel, and the organisers clearly want the players to be part of the wider entertainment rather than completely separated from it.
If player interaction matters to you, I'd put Almaty quite high on the list.
And, naturally, bring something for them to sign.
I'd go if you like discovering tournaments that feel different from the usual European tennis circuit.
The Almaty Open is particularly appealing if you enjoy the idea of combining tennis with travel. The tournament gives you a reason to visit a city that many tennis fans might otherwise never put on their itinerary.
I'd also go if you enjoy atmosphere.
The organisers have deliberately made music and entertainment part of the tournament experience, and the evening sessions are designed to feel like an event rather than simply a sequence of tennis matches.
And if you're a fan of Kazakh tennis, this is obviously one to put on the list.
Home support can make an ATP 250 feel considerably bigger than it looks on paper.
I'd go for an evening session.
The Almaty Open is particularly good at turning its evening sessions into an occasion, with live music and entertainment before the tennis. The organisers are expanding that format, making the concerts and festival atmosphere a genuine part of the event rather than something happening in the background.
I'd also get there early enough to have a look around the festival area.
There is a food court, activities, shops, family entertainment and even organised autograph sessions with players.
And here's my other piece of advice: don't rush home after the tennis.
Almaty is a brilliant base for exploring Kazakhstan, and the mountains are close enough to make you wonder why you ever thought the tennis centre was the main attraction.
Well, almost.
Not really a problem here.
The Almaty Open is played indoors at Almaty Arena, so you can leave the sun cream in your suitcase and stop worrying about which side of the court is going to cook you.
This is one of the little luxuries of an indoor tournament.
The weather outside can be doing whatever it likes.
You are inside watching tennis.
That said, Almaty in October can be chilly, particularly once the sun goes down, so I'd be more concerned about the journey to and from the arena than getting sunburnt in your seat.
A jacket might be more useful than a hat.
Almaty Arena is in the Nurkent microdistrict, in the western part of the city.
It isn't a venue I'd describe as being right in the middle of the tourist centre, so I'd plan your journey in advance. The arena is served by the city's road network and taxis/ride-hailing are likely to be the easiest option for many visitors.
The good news is that once you're there, you're inside one venue.
No wandering between seven different courts.
No discovering that Court 6 is somehow a 15-minute walk away.
You arrive at Almaty Arena, find your seat and settle in.
And if you're going to an evening session, I'd give yourself enough time afterwards to get back into the city rather than assuming transport will be quite as plentiful as it is during the day.
I'd skip it if you're looking for traditional tennis theatre.
There isn't the history of Wimbledon, the scale of Shanghai or the glamour of the established European tournaments.
This is a relatively young event still finding its personality.
I'd also skip it if you're not particularly interested in travelling somewhere new. There are plenty of ATP tournaments that are easier to reach from Europe, so Almaty needs to offer you something beyond the tennis.
Luckily, it does.
But if your only reason for going is to see one specific player, I'd probably save the money until the draw is confirmed. As always, an ATP 250 field can change.
Power in Numbers
28
Single Draws
12,000
Centre court seat
5
Courts