Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell: The State of Spanish Tennis

He Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell-71st Conde de Godó Trophy It began with Rafa Nadal warning, at 37 years old, that he could be facing his last participation, saying goodbye to a tournament that he has won twelve times, after having debuted in 2003 at 16.

The same day that Carlos Alcaraz, 20 years old and champion of the last two editions, he explained that the injury to his right forearm requires more days and treatment, that he cannot even confirm his participation in Madrid, at the end of next week.

With the legend concluding his journey and the new phenomenon, out, the Spanish tennis pyramid suffers. There have been many years with a large contingent of great, very good and good professionals. The middle class suffers.

Only eight players entered the draw, half thanks to an invitation, not by ranking when the registration list was closed. The lowest figure in the Godó since 1978. Although it is the country that contributes the most tennis players to the current team

The opening day ended in disaster. Of the four that debuted, all of them with a ‘wild card’, only Roberto Bautista, recovering at 36 years old (no. 84) from a bad spell of physical problems, managed to access the sixteenth. He beat the Russian Roman Safiullin 6-3 and 7-6 (8), meeting another Russian, Karen Khachanov.

Another illustrious veteran, the left-handed Albert Ramos36 years old and No. 108, lost to ATP No. 110, the 27-year-old Frenchman Alexander Muller 7-6 (4) and 6-0.

Also at the center, the Rafa Nadal Court, the young puppies also failed to take off. Opened Dani Rincon, 21 years old and number 2016, falling to the solid Argentine Facundo Díaz Acosta, 6-1 and 6-4. Another former US Open junior champion and No. 1 under-18 at 16, the Madrid native Martin Landalucemade his debut in the big draw at Godó, falling against the Dominican Nick Hardt, survivor of the qualifying phase and recent winner of the ATP Challenger held at the Emilio Sánchez Academy in Barcelona.

Hardt, 23 years old and No. 229, achieved his first ATP Tour victory, winning 2-6, 6-4 and 6-3 against Landaluce, 18 years old and No. 328. Like Rincón, with ties to the Rafa Nadal Academy.

They remain to enter the first round Rafa Nadal, Roberto Carballés and Jaume Munar. The only seed will play directly in second place on Wednesday, Alexander Davidovich.

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The upper middle class of Spanish tennis has been left empty for now. Waiting for the youngest to gain experience or for the most experienced to regain positions in the ranks. Neither one nor the other will be easy.

2024-04-15 18:02:02
#Disaster #Spanish #tennis #Godó