Confirmation Of Marbella Open Is Good News For The Costa Del Sol. The Marbella Open is returning after a six year absence from the professional circuit.
Confirmation Of Marbella Open Is Good News For The Costa Del Sol
The ATP Tour’s decision to continue with the Marbella Open is good news for tennis lovers in the Costa del Sol. Indeed, such a decision by tennis’ governing body means that the sunny coastal city of Marbella will benefit from the exposure that an ATP tour event brings. In some respects, the future of this event was somewhat uncertain after a six-year hiatus from the professional tennis circuit. However a positive return in 2018 seems to have convinced the powers that be of Marbella’s charm, which means that this could be a long term partnership going forward.
The question everyone is asking is whether Spanish superstar Rafael Nadal will add the Marbella Open to his schedule this year. Regrettably, it looks unlikely as the prize money is only €44,820 and, right now, Nadal is in a race against time to be crowned the most successful tennis player of the men’s era.
To do that, the 34-year-old needs to win at least one more Grand Slam as he is currently tied with Roger Federer on twenty titles each. There is a chance that Nadal could achieve this feat whilst Down Under as the 2021 Australian Open betting put him at odds of 4/1 to do it as of February 15. Although should this not happen, there is an expectant mood around Spain that Nadal will surpass Federer’s record at the 2021 French Open given that he is at evens to win it.
Rafael Nadal is unlikely to take part.
Even if Nadal’s absence does understandably disappoint fans in Marbella, there will be an appreciation of the enormity of the task at hand for Spain’s favourite tennis son. This next year could well define Nadal’s life’s work on the tennis court and every Spaniard will be holding thumbs that the King of Clay can achieve what would be the most remarkable accomplishment.
Instead, Marbella tennis fans can expect to see defending champion Pedro Martinez return to the Club de Tenis Puente Romano where he triumphed last year. Martinez’s win made sure that two of the three champions since the competition’s return in 2018 have been Spanish, with fellow countryman Pablo Andujar winning the event in 2019.
The only other winner who wasn’t Spanish was Stefano Travaglia in 2018 when the 29-year-old Italian managed to pull off a stunning win on Spanish soil. Since then, however, it’s been plain sailing for the Spaniards and the home support will be keen on seeing this trend carry on when the ATP Tour returns to the Costa del Sol.
Admittedly, the winners are normally relative unknowns in the world of tennis but that may not be the case forever.
Sooner or later, Spain will need a new champion to step forward and carry the torch for the country after Rafa Nadal decides to call it a day. That could still be a few years away but the truth is Nadal is a lot closer to the end of his career than the beginning of it. This is why tennis events like the Marbella Open are so vital to the development of the next stars of the future.
