1995
"St. Petersburg Open" history dates back to 1995. It was the year when the first ATP Tour International Series Tennis Tournament took place in St. Petersburg. Its assential to notice that the right to host the ATP Tournament was received by St. Petersburg Open as a result of the international tender with Budapest (Hungary) and Graz (Austria). The tender was won thanks to the first owner of the tournament - Professional Tennis League of Russia and of Bank "Baltia" financial support. Young "St. Petersburg Open" had to prove its strong position taking into account that the tournament took place with such a neighbourhood of supertournaments as in Lipton in Ki-Biskein, that took place at the same week.
St. Petersburg newcomer appeard to be an important event in the life of the city and in the whole country as well. The participants list of the new Tournament was really impressive: a hero of the year of 1995 austrian Thomas Muster, australian Pat Kash- the champion of Wimbeldon -87, dutchman Yakob Hlassek, english canadian Greg Rusedski and young genius - Nicolas Kiefer...
The Tournament results inspired both - organizers and spectators: three Russians - Kafelnikov, Chesnokov and Volkov have reached the semifinals.
"St. Petersburg Open" first winner became the best player of the last century - Yevgeny Kafelnikov.
All participants enjoyed St. Petersburg Open and it was the main result for the tournament. As the organizers paid great attention towards the social program of the event. Sightseeing tours to the Hermitage and the Russian Museum, players' parties, Pro-Am tournaments became the essential part of the Tournament. Participants of the first tournaments still remember helicopter flights over the Ladoga lake and winter fishing.
1996
Anfortunately Yevgeny Kafelnikov didn't win St. Petersburg trophy this year, though he reached the finals but Magnus Gustafsson of Sweden became the winner . The rest of the Russian players didn't show good results (as they did the previous year). Among them were : Volkov, Cherkasov, Chesnokov and also Andrey Olkhovsky. "St. Petersburg Open" was experiencing some difficultes at that time and only support of the city Administration (the Governor of St. Petersburg is traditionally the Chairman of the Organizing Committee) and the commercial companies brought the financial guaranties to the tournament.
1997
Next tournament - St. Petersburg Open-97 - didn't change greatly - as to foreign participants and sponsors. The only thing that was different -the number of Russian tennis players. Yevgeny Kafelnikov prefered Ki-Biskein, and Andrey Chesnokov couldn't come because of trauma. As a result - Thomas Johansson won the tournament of 1997.
1998
Only two Russian players participated in the tournament this year. Kafelnikov went to the tournament in Dubai, Volkov decided to finish his sports career, Chesnokov and Olkhovsky were injuried, and also this year organizeres were late with inviting Safin. As a result, only 20 year old Chernenko and youngster Ivanov-Smolensky represented Russia. The first round for them turned out to be the last. But it didn't mean that there were nobody to look at. Dutchmen Krajicek and Marc Rosset were the gems of the tournament. This two players reached the final. The winner of St. Petersburg Open became Krajicek.
1999
This year became the crucial moment in the history of "St. Petersburg Open". One of the major banks of the North-Western region "BALTUNEXIM" Bank has purchased the rights for the Tournament from its first owner - Professional Tennis League. The Tournament financial situation improved significantly and it allowed to draw even more attention of the fans towards the Tournament.
Marat Safin's first St. Petersburg Open appearance was this year. He easily reached semifinal but lost to Rosset. Kornienko appeared to be a sensation of the tournament :being at 1242 position , he got into the Main Draw through the Qualifies and almost reached the semifinals.
Due to the improvements in the organization "St. Petersburg Open"-99 has gained the ATP award for the Record Attendance.
2000
The dates of holding the Tournament have been changed - from February, the start of the season, to autumn - closer to its end. New position in the ATP calendar (right before the World Championship) made the Tournament more interesting for the world top players - the chance to gain necessary points for getting into the World Eight in the Masters Cup.
Due to this fact the participants list has changed immediately - any ATP Champions Series Tournament could envy "St. Petersburg Open-2000": for the first time two of the Top six players have played on the courts of the Peterburgsky Sports Complex.
The development in the technical aspect was noticeable as well. The most up-to-date surface - GreenSet Grand Prix - was laid in the Sports Complex. It is traditionally used in the prestigious indoor tournaments. The players Marat Safin, Dominik Hrbaty, Jonas Bjorkman and others highly estimated the new courts.
Furthermore the prize money was increased from $300,000 up to $800,000. Among the participants were Safin and Kafelnikov - who were the first and the fifth in the Race. Also many famous tennis players came to the tournament: Ivanisevic, Rosset, Pozzi, Hrbaty, Volchkov and Mirnyi. It's became a tradition already that every year one of the Wild Cards is given to the winner of the St. Petersburg Best Players Tournament, besides that this tournament's finalist and bronze winner recieve the Wild Card to Quolify.
This year the St. Petersburg Open Directorate started the tradition of giving an opportunity- wild card- for talanted players to participate in a main draw.
The winner of St. Petersburg Open 2000 became Safin, who played vs Hrbaty in the final game. Due to this victory Safin headed Top 10.
In 2000 42 000 spectators visited St. Petersburg Open.
2001
Inspite of all the changes in the ATP program St. Petersburg Open kept Its week without any changes. As a result 4 best players of the season came to participate the tournament: Haas from Germany, Ferrero from Spain and Kafelnikov and Safin from Russia. Ivanisevic, the winner of Wimbeldon, obtained Wild Card this year.
More than 50 000 spectators that visited St. Petersburg Open this year could watch a wonderful proffessional game. Safin won the tournament for the second time .
This year St. Petersburg Open gained the award "Promotion and Marketing" for a good organization.
2002
Tournament Directorate dicided once more to increase prize money up to $1 000 000. Now the winner gets 50 points in his ATP Champions race.
For the first time the tournament gets general sponsour -"Gazprom" company.
At the head of the Main Draw was Andre Agassi, who came to St. Petersburg with his wife- Shteffi Graf and his son Djeiden Jill. Kafelnikov also brought his doughter Olesya with him to St. Petersburg. A lot of famous players were staring at St. Petersburg Open 2002 such as Kiefer from Germany, El Aynaoui from Marocco, Mirnyi, Gaudio, Kucera, Grosjean and Youzhny. It was he who became the gem of the tournament. He reached the finals but lost to Grosjean.
Indoor arena of Sports Complex Peterburgsky, where St. Petersburg Open was held, now has got its new style. Corts location became different- as a result - trade zone became larger. More than 52 000 spectators visited St. Petersburg Open this year.
Because of the efforts of the St. Petersburg Directorate The Tennis Hall of Fame was open during the tournament. Earl Sumarokov - the founder of tennis in Russia, Matrevelly - the semifinalist of Wimbeldon-73 and Kafelnikov became its first members.
2003
Preparations for the tournament St. Petersburg Open -2003 , which will take place in October 20-26 has started already.
During St. Petersburg Open 2003 - the tournament of Best tennis players of St. Petersburg will be also held. Its winner will get Wild Card to the Main Draw and the finalist and semifinalist - to qualifying draw. Qualifing Doubles are not held.
St. Petersburg Open Junior is held annualy during the tournament.
