Professional tennis at the highest level is set for a historic return to Greece with the Hellenic Championship ATP 250 tournament after over thirty years.
The tournament, which runs from November 1st to November 8th, 2025, begins on Saturday in Athens, officially placing Greece back on the international ATP Tour calendar and ushering in a new era for the sport in the country.
The highly anticipated event will take place at the massive Telekom Center Basketball Arena within the Athens Olympic Sports Center (OAKA), which has been converted into a world-class tennis venue.
The star-studded lineup of the Hellenic Championship ATP
The tournament has successfully drawn the cream of global tennis talent, highlighting the event’s international significance. Confirmed participants include:
- Novak Djokovic (World No. 1 and instrumental in bringing the event to Greece)
- Stefanos Tsitsipas (Greek national star)
- Stan Wawrinka (Three-time Grand Slam champion from Switzerland)
- Karen Khachanov (Russia)
- Jiří Lehečka (Promising Czech talent)
- Tomáš Macháč (Rising Czech player)
- Luciano Darderi
- João Fonseca (Young Brazilian)
- Brandon Nakashima (American)
- …and dozens of other top players.
The long road to Athens
The ATP 250 tournament rights, which had a turbulent journey across Europe, were secured for Greece thanks in large part to the efforts of Novak Djokovic and his team.
The event’s circuit involved temporary stops in Israel, Serbia, and Spain after its original location (a Russian tournament) was canceled. The move to Athens is viewed as a landmark achievement for the nation.
The transformed TELEKOM CENTER Athens, a historical basketball arena with a capacity of 20,000 spectators, will host over seventy top players. The matches will be broadcast in over 150 countries, establishing Athens as a key fixture on the international ATP calendar.
Djokovic: “Greece has a place on the world tennis map”
Speaking about the tournament’s significance, Serbian champion Novak Djokovic emphasized the project’s impact:
“Greece now has a place on the map of world tennis. It is a country with enormous energy, rich sports history, and a new generation of fans who love the sport. I am proud to have helped the ATP Tour return here after so many years. I hope this tournament becomes an institution and inspires young children to pick up a racket.”
Djokovic also recorded a video message, enthusiastically welcoming fans in Greek: Kalimera Ellada (Good morning Greece), continuing:
“It is an honor to be in this historic stadium, the home of Panathinaikos, one of the best basketball teams in Europe. I am very excited to see you fill this wonderful arena and hope you witness world-class tennis.”
A milestone for Greek tennis
The Hellenic Tennis Federation views the ATP Tour’s return as more than just a single event. It is the culmination of long-term efforts to upgrade professional tennis in Greece, a calendar that already includes 30 Futures and 7 Challenger tournaments annually.
Theodoros Glavas, President of the Federation, shared his vision:
“Hosting an ATP tournament in Greece after three decades is a landmark moment. It is a huge opportunity for Greek athletes to compete at the highest level in their homeland. It also opens new paths for the popularization of tennis, attracts sponsors, and inspires young people to believe they can reach the top. It is our desire for the Hellenic Championship to be established as an annual institution.”
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