Djokovic announces Serbia’s first ATP event

Novak Djokovic will host Serbia's first ATP tournament, which will offer $500,000 in prize money.

The third-ranked Serb confirmed Wednesday that Belgrade will host the event in May. His family bought the licence of the ABN Amro Open previously held in the Netherlands.

“After all the success of our players, we have managed to bring Serbia to the world map of tennis,” Djokovic said.

Serbia boosts top-ranked Jelena Jankovic and No. 5 Ana Ivanovic , the French Open winner. Ivanovic held the No. 1 spot earlier this year.

Ivanovic is reportedly negotiating to buy a franchise for a WTA event in Belgrade next winter.

Belgrade has hosted challenger events in the past but not an ATP or WTA tournament. It hasn't hosted any type of major tennis competition in more than a decade because of unrest in the region.

Djokovic said he will aim to bring top-ranked players to the ATP tournament between Masters Series events in Rome and Madrid next May.

“I spoke to some of them about coming, but nothing was sure until we really got the event,” Djokovic said, adding that Croatian great Niki Pilic will be the director of the tournament.

“However, it is not crucial that we immediately get (Rafael) Nadal, (Roger) Federer or (Andy) Murray to play,” Djokovic said. “It is important that we get quality matches.”