Nice replaces Kitzbuhel in men's tennis

NICE, France, Nov. 27 (UPI) -- The Association of Tennis Professionals announced Friday that Nice, France, will replace Kitzbuhel, Austria, on the 2010 men's tennis schedule.

Nice held a tournament for several years until 1995, while the Austrian Open at Kitzbuhel has been held since 1945.

The unnamed Nice event will occur the week before the French Open in Paris in May, and gives France five tour stops next season with the Open 13 at Marseilles in February, the Open de Moselle at Metz in September and the Grand Prix de Tennis Lyon in October.

"We are delighted to announce the new event in Nice," said Laurent Delanney, ATP chief executive officer for Europe. "Nice staged a popular ATP World Tour event for many years and it is great to be able to return there after a 15-year absence. Tennis has a huge following in France."