The Grounds Pass Awards
Recognising the best fan experiences across the ATP Tour — from the most spectacular grounds pass to the best stadium food, shadiest seats, and most beautiful city locations.
7 categories · 2026 edition
2026 Award
Best Value Grounds Pass
The tournament where your all-grounds ticket gives the most access, atmosphere, and player proximity for the price.
Free to queue. £30–£85 gets you 17 outer courts, top-20 players within arm's reach, Henman Hill atmosphere, and the most storied grounds in tennis. The queue itself is an event.
Runner-Up
Roland Garros →€15–€45 for access to Simonne-Mathieu (one of the world's most beautiful arenas), packed outer courts, and strawberries in Paris.
2026 Award
Best Seats for the Money
Where your ticket dollar goes furthest for the quality of view, closeness to the action, and overall experience.
Suzanne-Lenglen upper tiers at €55–€120 routinely host top-4 seeds with the Eiffel Tower as backdrop. No stadium in tennis gives this much beauty-per-euro.
Runner-Up
Miami Open →Sections 241–251 at Hard Rock Stadium: shaded by 2:30pm, excellent sightlines, and you're watching tennis inside an NFL stadium for under $180.
2026 Award
Best Shade & Comfort
The venue where you're least likely to suffer heat exhaustion while watching tennis.
Three retractable-roof arenas (RLA, JCA, MCA) mean shade is always available. Extreme Heat Policy adds a safety net. The best infrastructure for hot-weather tennis.
Runner-Up
Madrid Open →All three Caja Mágica arenas have retractable roofs. The 650m altitude keeps temperatures lower than Madrid's streets. Near-perfect shade coverage.
2026 Award
Best Stadium Food
Where the on-site dining actually makes you excited, not just functional.
40+ food and beverage outlets including Kiki on the River, OMAKAI sushi, Café la Trova Cuban cocktails, and Chug's. The best and most diverse food program in professional tennis.
Runner-Up
US Open →Pat LaFrieda ribeye sandwich, Di Fara pizza, Eggslut — only at the US Open do food queues genuinely compete with match attendance for fan attention.
2026 Award
Best City & Location
Where the tournament destination makes for the best trip beyond the tennis.
Paris is Paris. Three Michelin-star restaurants within taxi distance, the Louvre, the Bois de Boulogne next door, and the Eiffel Tower visible from the stands. Unrivalled.
Runner-Up
Italian Open →Tennis in a Fascist-era marble complex with St Peter's visible over the rooftops. Rome's food scene, history, and aperitivo culture make it a world-class trip.
2026 Award
Best Overall Fan Experience
The complete package: venue, atmosphere, access, city, food, and bang-for-buck.
The AO consistently ranks as the 'happiest slam'. Melbourne's summer city vibe, three world-class roofed arenas, 40+ food vendors, and the friendliest Grand Slam crowd make it the most well-rounded tennis experience on the calendar.
Runner-Up
Indian Wells →The 'Fifth Slam' deserves the nickname. Perfect weather, mountain backdrop, Nobu food, intimate atmosphere, and every top-5 player in the draw. The best non-Slam experience in tennis.
2026 Award
Best Challenger of the Year
The challenger or ATP 250 that offers the best combination of location, atmosphere, rising stars, and accessibility.
A grass-court challenger in a leafy London suburb, two weeks before Queens, where you can watch future Wimbledon contenders for £10 on the side courts. The most charming tennis experience in England.
Runner-Up
Kitzbühel →Clay in the Austrian Alps. A mountain ski resort becomes a tennis town for one week in July, with free outer court viewing and a backdrop of the Hahnenkamm. Unforgettable setting.
Awards are editorial selections based on fan experience, value, and venue quality. Updated annually. Submit feedback via the Fan Tips on each tournament page.