The 2003 ATP Tour was the global elite men's professional tennis circuit organised by the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) for the 2003 tennis season. The ATP Tour is the elite tour for professional tennis organised by the ATP. The ATP Tour includes the four Grand Slam tournaments, the Tennis Masters Cup, the ATP Masters Series, the International Series Gold and the International Series tournaments.
Season summary The 2003 ATP Tour season saw 3 new Grand Slam champions and saw Andre Agassi win his eighth and last Grand Slam title when winning the Australian Open for the fourth time. Roger Federer would win his first of 20 Grand Slam titles by defeating Aussie Mark Philippoussis 7–6(7–5), 6–2, 7–6(7–3) in the final at Wimbledon. Federer would also win his maiden Tennis Masters Cup by defeating Agassi in the final 6–3, 6–0, 6–4. Federer would win 7 titles overall, including winning in Dubai and Halle, tournaments he would have a lot of success at in later seasons. 2003 would be a breakout season for Federer as a dominant player at the very top of the game, improving his year-end ATP ranking from 6 the previous season to 2.
Andy Roddick also had a breakthrough season by winning his first and only Grand Slam title at the US Open and ending the season as world No. 1, 160 points ahead of Federer. Roddick started the season off with an epic victory in the quarterfinals of the Australian Open over Younes El Aynaoui, winning 21–19 in the fifth set after playing for 4 hours and 59 minutes. By doing this, Roddick reached his first major semifinal but was eventually defeated by Rainer Schüttler.
Roddick reached the semifinals of Wimbledon where he was defeated by Federer in straight sets but then won his maiden Masters Series title in Montreal, beating Federer in the semis on route. Roddick would then go on to win back to back Masters Series titles by winning Cincinnati. At the US Open, Roddick saved a match point en route to the title in the semifinals against David Nalbandian, which he won 6–7(4–7), 3–6, 7–6(9–7), 6–1, 6–3. He went on to defeat Juan Carlos Ferrero 6–3, 7–6(7–2), 6–3 in the final. Roddick became one of only three players to win Canada, Cincinnati and the US Open consecutively along with Patrick Rafter in 1998 and Rafael Nadal in 2013.
Juan Carlos Ferrero also added his name to the list of maiden Grand Slam champions in 2003 when he won the French Open, having lost in the final the previous year. He defeated surprise finalist Martin Verkerk 6–1, 6–3, 6–2. Ferrero also captured Masters Series titles in Monte Carlo and Madrid and went on to end the season as world No. 3.
Andre Agassi won his eighth and final Grand Slam title by defeating Rainer Schüttler in the final of the Australian Open 6–2, 6–2, 6–1. In March, Agassi won his sixth Miami Masters title and his 16th Masters title overall. On April 28, Agassi reclaimed his position at the top of the ATP rankings for the first time since 2000. He then replicated this feat when recapturing the No. 1 ranking on June 16, a position he maintained for 13 weeks. By being No. 1 in the rankings, he became the oldest world No. 1 at 33 years and 3 months of age, a record not broken till Federer got to the top of the rankings in 2018. Agassi lost in the semifinals of the US Open to Ferrero.
Young Argentine Guillermo Coria had a breakout season in 2003, rising from world No. 45 in 2002 to 5 at the end of the year. He won his first Masters Series title in Hamburg and reached the semifinals of the French Open. Félix Mantilla caused an upset by capturing his first and only Masters title in Rome, picking up wins over Costa, Kafelnikov and Federer on the way. 4-time Wimbledon semi finalist Tim Henman also captured his lone Masters Series title by impressively coming through the draw in Paris, defeating the likes of Federer and Roddick on the way before defeating Andrei Pavel in the final.
2002 Wimbledon champion Lleyton Hewitt’s form dropped in 2003, losing his world No. 1 position and dropping out of the top 10. Despite failing to reach a Grand Slam semifinal in 2003, Hewitt did however defend the title at the Indian Wells Masters and was instrumental in helping Australia win the Davis Cup title. Hewitt defeated Federer in the semifinals from 2 sets down to help Australia reach the final. He then defeated Ferrero in the final in another 5 set victory to help Australia capture their 28th Davis Cup crown. Mark Philippoussis beat Ferrero to see Australia claim the victory over Spain 3–1 in Melbourne.
Schedule The table below shows the 2003 ATP Tour schedule.
Key Grand Slam Tennis Masters Cup Tennis Masters Series ATP International Series Gold ATP International Series Team Events
January WeekTournamentChampionsRunners-upSemifinalistsQuarterfinalists30 Dec Hopman CupPerth, AustraliaITF Mixed Team Championships Hard (i) – 8 teams (RR)3–0 2003 AAPT Championships Adelaide, AustraliaATP International Series$380,000 – Hard Singles – Doubles Nikolay Davydenko6–2, 7–6(7–3) Kristof Vliegen Richard Krajicek Adrian Voinea Brian Vahaly Alberto Martín Mariano Zabaleta Antony Dupuis Jeff Coetzee Chris Haggard2–6, 6–4, 7–6(9–7) Max Mirnyi Jeff Morrison 2003 Tata OpenChennai, IndiaATP International Series$380,000 – Hard Singles – Doubles Paradorn Srichaphan6–3, 6–1 Karol Kučera Juan Ignacio Chela Jean-René Lisnard Guillermo Cañas Tomas Behrend Rainer Schüttler Sargis Sargsian Julian Knowle Michael Kohlmann7–6(7–1), 7–6(7–3) František Čermák Leoš Friedl 2003 Qatar OpenDoha, QatarATP International Series$1,000,000 – Hard Singles – Doubles Stefan Koubek6–4, 6–4 Jan-Michael Gambill Mikhail Youzhny Younes El Aynaoui Roger Federer Fernando Vicente Fabrice Santoro Andreas Vinciguerra Martin Damm Cyril Suk3–6, 6–1, 7–6(7–4) Mark Knowles Daniel Nestor6 Jan 2003 Heineken Open Auckland, New ZealandATP International Series$380,000 – Hard Singles – Doubles Gustavo Kuerten6–3, 7–5 Dominik Hrbatý Félix Mantilla Mariano Zabaleta Jiří Novák David Ferrer Guillermo Coria Stefan Koubek David Adams Robbie Koenig7–6(7–5), 3–6, 6–3 Tomáš Cibulec Leoš Friedl 2003 Adidas International Sydney, AustraliaATP International Series$380,000 – Hard Singles – Doubles Hyung-Taik Lee4–6, 7–6(8–6), 7–6(7–4) Juan Carlos Ferrero Wayne Ferreira Rainer Schüttler Marat Safin Franco Squillari Mardy Fish Paradorn Srichaphan Paul Hanley Nathan Healey7–6(7–3), 6–4 Mahesh Bhupathi Joshua Eagle13 Jan20 Jan 2003 Australian OpenMelbourne, AustraliaGrand Slam$10,591,690 – Hard – 128S/64D/32XDSingles – Doubles – Mixed doubles Andre Agassi6–2, 6–2, 6–1 Rainer Schüttler Andy Roddick Wayne Ferreira Younes El Aynaoui David Nalbandian Juan Carlos Ferrero Sébastien Grosjean Michaël Llodra Fabrice Santoro6–4, 3–6, 6–3 Mark Knowles Daniel Nestor Leander Paes Martina Navratilova6–4, 7–5 Todd Woodbridge Eleni Daniilidou27 Jan 2003 Milan Open Milan, ItalyATP International Series$380,000 – Carpet (i) Singles – Doubles Martin Verkerk6–4, 5–7, 7–5 Yevgeny Kafelnikov Jarkko Nieminen Ivan Ljubičić Richard Krajicek Jonas Björkman Julien Varlet Davide Sanguinetti Petr Luxa Radek Štěpánek6–4, 7–6(7–4) Tomáš Cibulec Pavel Vízner
February WeekTournamentChampionsRunners-upSemifinalistsQuarterfinalists3 Feb Davis Cup by BNP Paribas First RoundBucharest, Romania – Carpet (i) Arnhem, Netherlands – Carpet (i)Sydney, Australia – Clay (red)Helsingborg, Sweden – Carpet (i) Zagreb, Croatia – Carpet (i) Seville, Spain – Clay (red)Buenos Aires, Argentina – Clay (red) Ostrava, Czech Republic – Clay (red) (i) 4–1 3–2 4–1 3–2 4–1 5–0 5–0 3–2 10 Feb 2003 Open 13 Marseille, FranceATP International Series$500,000 – Hard (i) Singles – Doubles Roger Federer6–2, 7–6(8–6) Jonas Björkman Karol Kučera Nicolas Escudé Raemon Sluiter Olivier Rochus Dominik Hrbatý Rodolphe Cadart Sébastien Grosjean Fabrice Santoro6–1, 6–4 Tomáš Cibulec Pavel Vízner 2003 Siebel OpenSan Jose, USATP International Series$380,000 – Hard (i) Singles – Doubles Andre Agassi6–3, 6–1 Davide Sanguinetti James Blake Justin Gimelstob Vladimir Voltchkov Nikolay Davydenko Vincent Spadea Kenneth Carlsen Hyung-Taik Lee Vladimir Voltchkov7–5, 4–6, 6–3 Paul Goldstein Robert Kendrick 2003 Bell South OpenViña del Mar, ChileATP International Series$345,000 – Clay Singles – Doubles David Sánchez1–6, 6–3, 6–3 Marcelo Ríos Gastón Gaudio Albert Montañés Félix Mantilla Agustín Calleri Andrea Gaudenzi Jiří Vaněk Agustín Calleri Mariano Hood6–3, 1–6, 6–4 František Čermák Leoš Friedl17 Feb 2003 Kroger St. Jude InternationalMemphis, USATP International Series Gold$690,000 – Hard (i) Singles – Doubles Taylor Dent6–1, 6–4 Andy Roddick Brian Vahaly Vincent Spadea Robby Ginepri Irakli Labadze Vladimir Voltchkov Mardy Fish Mark Knowles Daniel Nestor6–2, 7–6(7–3) Bob Bryan Mike Bryan 2003 ABN AMRO World Tennis TournamentRotterdam, NetherlandsATP International Series Gold$800,000 – Hard (i) Singles – Doubles Max Mirnyi7–6(7–3), 6–4 Raemon Sluiter Sébastien Grosjean Roger Federer Juan Carlos Ferrero Nicolas Escudé Yevgeny Kafelnikov Sjeng Schalken Wayne Arthurs Paul Hanley7–6(7–3), 6–2 Roger Federer Max Mirnyi 2003 Copa AT&TBuenos Aires, ArgentinaATP International Series$380,000 – Clay Singles – Doubles Carlos Moyà6–3, 4–6, 6–4 Guillermo Coria Gustavo Kuerten Gastón Gaudio Luis Horna Félix Mantilla Juan Ignacio Chela David Nalbandian Mariano Hood Sebastián Prieto6–2, 6–2 Lucas Arnold Ker David Nalbandian24 Feb 2003 Abierto Mexicano Telefonica Movistar Acapulco, MexicoATP International Series Gold$690,000 – Clay Singles – Doubles Agustín Calleri7–5, 3–6, 6–3 Mariano Zabaleta Félix Mantilla Gustavo Kuerten Carlos Moyà Marcelo Ríos Fernando González Iván Miranda Mark Knowles Daniel Nestor6–3, 6–3 David Ferrer Fernando Vicente 2003 Dubai Tennis OpenDubai, United Arab EmiratesATP International Series Gold$1,000,000 – Hard Singles – Doubles Roger Federer6–1, 7–6(7–2) Jiří Novák Ivan Ljubičić Tommy Robredo Hicham Arazi Rainer Schüttler Sjeng Schalken Feliciano López Leander Paes David Rikl6–3, 6–0 Wayne Black Kevin Ullyett 2003 Copenhagen OpenCopenhagen, DenmarkATP International Series$380,000 – Hard (i) Singles – Doubles Karol Kučera7–6(7–4), 6–4 Olivier Rochus Radek Štěpánek Wayne Arthurs Tomas Behrend Karol Beck Michel Kratochvil Magnus Norman Tomáš Cibulec Pavel Vízner7–5, 5–7, 6–2 Julian Knowle Michael Kohlmann
March WeekTournamentChampionsRunners-upSemifinalistsQuarterfinalists3 Mar Delray Beach International Tennis Championships Delray Beach, USATP International Series$380,000 – Hard Singles – Doubles Jan-Michael Gambill 6–0, 7–6(7–5) Mardy Fish Marcelo Ríos Robert Kendrick Alberto Martín Hyung-Taik Lee Flávio Saretta Vladimir Voltchkov Leander Paes Nenad Zimonjić 7–5, 3–6, 7–5 Raemon Sluiter Martin Verkerk Franklin Templeton Tennis Classic Scottsdale, USATP International Series$380,000 – Hard Singles – Doubles Lleyton Hewitt 6–4, 6–4 Mark Philippoussis Taylor Dent Mariano Zabaleta Àlex Corretja David Sánchez David Nalbandian James Blake James Blake Mark Merklein 6–4, 6–7(2–7), 7–6(7–5) Lleyton Hewitt Mark Philippoussis10 Mar Pacific Life Open Indian Wells, USTennis Masters Series$2,200,000 – Hard Singles – Doubles Lleyton Hewitt 6–1, 6–1 Gustavo Kuerten Vincent Spadea Rainer Schüttler Robby Ginepri Brian Vahaly James Blake Andy Roddick Wayne Ferreira Yevgeny Kafelnikov 3–6, 7–5, 6–4 Bob Bryan Mike Bryan17 Mar24 Mar NASDAQ-100 Open Key Biscayne, USTennis Masters Series$3,000,000 – Hard Singles – Doubles Andre Agassi 6–3, 6–3 Carlos Moyà Paradorn Srichaphan Albert Costa Robby Ginepri Todd Martin Roger Federer Younes El Aynaoui Roger Federer Max Mirnyi 7–5, 6–3 Leander Paes David Rikl31 Mar Davis Cup by BNP Paribas QuarterfinalsToulouse, France – Hard (i) Malmö, Sweden – Hard (i) Valencia, Spain – Clay (red) Buenos Aires, Argentina – Clay (red) 3–2 5–0 5–0 5–0
April