What Is 1998 ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament

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Last updated: April 15, 2026

Quick Answer: The 1998 ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament was an ATP Tour men's tennis event held in February 1998 in Rotterdam, Netherlands. Richard Krajicek won the singles title, defeating Andrei Medvedev in the final with a score of 2–6, 6–3, 6–3.

Key Facts

The 1998 ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament took place from February 9 to February 15, 1998.
It was part of the ATP Super 9 series, now known as the ATP 500 events.
Richard Krajicek won the singles title, becoming the first Dutchman to do so since 1979.
The final score in the championship match was 2–6, 6–3, 6–3 in favor of Krajicek.
The tournament was played on indoor hard courts at the Rotterdam Ahoy arena.

Overview

The 1998 ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament was a prominent stop on the ATP Tour calendar, held annually in Rotterdam, Netherlands. As part of the prestigious ATP Super 9 series—precursor to today’s ATP 500 events—it attracted top-tier players and significant international attention.

Played on indoor hard courts at the Rotterdam Ahoy arena, the event offered a prize purse of $875,000 and featured a 32-player singles draw. The 1998 edition was particularly notable for local hero Richard Krajicek’s victory, marking a milestone for Dutch tennis.

Event dates: The tournament ran from February 9 to February 15, 1998, aligning with the early-season European indoor swing.
Tournament category: Classified as an ATP Super 9 event, one of the highest-tier tournaments outside the Grand Slams and ATP Finals.
Champion:Richard Krajicek won the singles title, defeating Andrei Medvedev in three sets with a final score of 2–6, 6–3, 6–3.
Venue: Held at the Rotterdam Ahoy arena, a multi-purpose indoor venue with a seating capacity of approximately 15,000 for tennis events.
Surface: Matches were played on indoor hard courts, a surface known for fast-paced rallies and favoring big servers like Krajicek.

How It Works

The ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament followed standard ATP Tour protocols for scheduling, player seeding, and match formats. As a men’s professional tennis event, it featured both singles and doubles competitions with structured draws and point allocations.

ATP Super 9: This classification meant the tournament offered 300 ranking points to the winner, placing it just below Grand Slams and the ATP Finals in prestige.
Player draw: The singles field included 32 players, with 8 seeds receiving first-round byes, while doubles featured a 16-team draw.
Match format: All matches were played in best-of-three sets, with a tiebreak at 6–6 in any set except the final set of the championship match.
Seeding: Players were seeded based on ATP rankings; Richard Krajicek was seeded sixth, reflecting his post-Wimbledon 1996 peak form.
Prize money: The total purse was $875,000, with the singles champion earning $122,000 and 300 ATP ranking points.
Qualifying rounds: Four players advanced from a 24-player qualifying draw held just before the main event, giving emerging players a path into the main draw.

Comparison at a Glance

Below is a comparison of the 1998 ABN AMRO tournament with similar ATP events of the era:

Tournament	Year	Category	Surface	Champion
ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament	1998	ATP Super 9	Indoor Hard	Richard Krajicek
Indian Wells	1998	ATP Championship Series	Outdoor Hard	Pete Sampras
Miami Open	1998	ATP Championship Series	Outdoor Hard	Patrick Rafter
Dubai Championships	1998	ATP International Series	Outdoor Hard	Andrei Medvedev
Paris Masters	1998	ATP Super 9	Indoor Carpet	Greg Rusedski

This table highlights how the 1998 ABN AMRO event compared to other ATP tournaments in category, surface, and champion. While Indian Wells and Miami offered more prize money and points, the Rotterdam tournament remained a key early-season event, especially for European-based players. Its indoor hard court setup provided a distinct challenge, differentiating it from outdoor events in Dubai or Miami.

Why It Matters

The 1998 ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament was more than just another ATP stop—it carried cultural and sporting significance for the Netherlands and the broader tennis world. Krajicek’s win was a national triumph, coming just months after he reached the Wimbledon semifinals and re-established himself as a top player post-injury.

National pride: Krajicek became the first Dutchman to win the title since 1979, sparking widespread celebration in the Netherlands.
ATP rankings boost: His 300-point haul helped him climb back into the top 10 of the ATP rankings by March 1998.
Tournament legacy: The victory elevated the profile of the Rotterdam event, contributing to its continuing status as an ATP 500 today.
Player momentum: Krajicek’s win served as a springboard for a strong 1998 season, including a semifinal run at the French Open.
Commercial success: The tournament demonstrated strong attendance and TV viewership, reinforcing ABN AMRO’s sponsorship value.
Tennis development: It inspired a new generation of Dutch players, including future ATP competitors like Thiemo de Bakker and Robin Haase.

The 1998 edition remains a landmark in the tournament’s history, symbolizing both athletic excellence and national achievement. Its blend of international talent, high stakes, and homegrown success made it a defining moment in post-Wimbledon-era Dutch tennis.