Idyllic setting, modern infrastructure: Why Mallorca is a tennis paradise

The Balearic Island, renowned for its idyllic setting, has in recent years become a popular destination for both amateur and professional athletes. Cycling, golf, hiking, tennis: Mallorca offers countless possibilities.

The craze can be explained in several ways. First of all, the climate, which is relatively mild throughout the year. Then, the location: Son Sant Joan airport offers flights to most major European cities. The hotel infrastructures are also excellent: there are more than 300,000 places in rooms on the whole island. The same goes for the sports facilities, which are of very high quality.

Mallorca is an anti-covid zone. The inhabitants, in addition to their legendary hospitality, have a habit of scrupulously following the health recommendations of the government. Result: between 20 and 30 new cases per day only since March. A unique situation in Spain.

Tennis is one of the island’s flagship sports. Two indicators make it possible to verify this: the number of tournaments organized and of training centers present. The ATP 250 tournament in Mallorca is the sporting event not to be missed. This year, on the courts of the Mallorca Lawn Tennis & Country Club in Santa Ponça, the first episode of the grass season will be held, which will end on the Wimbledon turf.

This is the first time in 19 years that the island has hosted an ATP tournament, and the first time in its history that it has organized a grass competition. The Mallorca Championship will take place from June 19 to 26 and will involve a prize-money of € 900,000. Another important event: the 3rd stage of the ATP Challenger circuit (Rafa Nadal Open by Sotheby´s International Realty), which will take place on the courts of the Rafa Nadal Academy from August 30 to September 5.

But that’s not all: the ITF circuit makes several stops on the island in 2021. Between January and March, the Rafa Nadal Academy hosted 5 World Tennis Tour tournaments (3 for women and 2 for men) , a World Tennis Junior and World Tennis Senior tournament. The Academy has also made its courts available for the Spanish Wheelchair Tennis Championship. Finally, on September 25, the Mallorca Senior Open will be held at the Beach Club Font de Sa Cala, in the municipality of Capdepera.

Another witness to Mallorca’s enthusiasm for tennis: the growing number of schools have made it their home. They offer courses for all levels during the week or at weekends, supervised by coaches and professional physical trainers. The most famous of these is the Rafa Nadal Academy by Movistar. In addition to being a center of excellence for young tennis players from all over the world, it welcomes children and adults for weekly courses.

Once the extension works are completed, it will have 40 tennis courts (clay, hard and indoor), 13 paddle tennis courts (indoor and outdoor), 2 squash courts, as well as a medical center. and fitness. There will also be an international school (Rafa Nadal International School), a gym and a spa (Rafa Nadal Club). With numerous state-of-the-art facilities grouped together within a single complex, the Rafa Nadal Academy actively participates in the promotion of Manacor and Mallorca at the international level.

Another important academy is that of Guillermo Vilas in Palmanova, which houses 11 clay courts and two in synthetic resin. The Balearic junior championship is notably organized there. The Mallorca Tennis Academy, located in Paguera, is also very famous. It hosts tournaments under the aegis of the Balearic Tennis Federation. Finally, we could mention the Global Tennis Academy in Marratxí and the Mallorca Tennis Club Teulera in Palma.

With such a pedigree, it’s no wonder that Mallorca has become a haven for tennis fans. The quality of the sports offer is constantly increasing, in order to meet the expectations of an increasingly demanding public. You will understand: the Balearics are aimed as much at lovers of fine sand as of the yellow ball.