Spanish Tennis Faces Challenges: A Look at the Decline in Depth

The Australian Open revealed in January a more than significant fact: with 11 representatives between both teams, Spanish tennis went back to 1996. And the results of the previous year had been suggesting the loss of muscle; not in the first line, supported by Rafael Nadal for almost two decades and in recent times by Carlos Alcaraz, but in the second, so important and necessary; surely the best scale to gauge national health. In Spain there are many and good…

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The Australian Open revealed in January a more than significant fact: with 11 representatives between both teams, Spanish tennis went back to 1996. And the results of the previous year had been suggesting the loss of muscle; not in the first line, supported by Rafael Nadal for almost two decades and in recent times by Carlos Alcaraz, but in the second, so important and necessary; surely the best scale to gauge national health. In Spain there are many good tennis players, the quarry continues to produce – there are more grassroots tournaments than ever and the registration of federative licenses is maintained – and the rise of the Murcian projects a succulent future in terms of success, but the results have been suffering and the Clay, the thermometer par excellence, confirms the new reality: there is a deficit.

Last week’s takeoff in Monte Carlo already offered clues in the men’s territory. Only four players entered the main draw, but Alcaraz could not compete due to a forearm ailment and Roberto Bautista, now 36 years old, was the one who went the furthest: second round. The women’s scene is not too different, where Spanish tennis players also fail to make their way to the final stages of tournaments. There is Paula Badosa, fighting not to disappear from the top-100 and suffering today from a muscle tear, in addition to her spine. She, the theoretical first sword due to her potential, loses weight and does not know if she will be able to play in Madrid soon. Before, what happened in Barcelona has an impact: it is not a good time. El Godó, little less than a wasteland.

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For the first time in 35 years, since 1989, Spanish tennis has not had any representative in the quarterfinals. The access phase already hinted that a complicated edition was coming—none of the eight opponents made it through—and then, four days were enough to eliminate all traces. Eight started the tournament – ​​four of them invited: Bautista, Ramos, Rincón and Landaluce – and most of them have starred on a short route. Only Bautista, Roberto Carballés and Alejandro Davidovich progressed to the round of 16, but all three were eliminated. Nadal did not make the cut in the second round, once surrounded by Praetorians and now, at the start, he passes the baton to Alcaraz, the Murcian rather unprotected.

He was the last to lift a trophy last year (Wimbledon) and the first and only one to have won one this year (Indian Wells). But it is not just a question of triumphs, but of presence. The eight players present in Barcelona are the lowest number since 1978 and today, it is very difficult to imagine a potential winner beyond Alcaraz; On the other hand, the history of the Catalan tournament reflects Ferrero, Moyà, Robredo, Verdasco as alternatives to Nadal since the beginning of the new century. Davidovich came close to achieving it two years ago, when he lost against the Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas; but, apart from that episode, nothing more. Regression, the facts say. Two representatives in the top-50—the man from Malaga and Alcaraz—and none on the WTA circuit. The old guard has been stepping aside and the intermediate batch is having a hard time making a leap in quality.

Carballés, during Thursday’s match against Tsitsipas at the RCTB.Alejandro García (EFE)

In any case, some experts defend, the situation requires time. “We have lived through a golden age, and now a transition is necessary. It’s okay, it’s logical. Now there are very good players, what happens is that we have had so many top-10 and top-20 players, that the rest is of little importance. We are bad used to it,” reassures the tournament director and Davis Cup captain, David Ferrer; “There are very good players, really. I consider that those who are in the top-100 are capable of winning good games and bringing joy. It’s true that with Rafa people got used to winning, so when Almagro, Feliciano, Verdasco or Ferrer won something it didn’t have that much impact, but it was normal. We have a good future. I really like Martín Landaluce [18 años] and there is also Pablo Llamas [21]. Let’s give them time.”

Meanwhile, this Friday’s day outlined the Godó semifinals. Stefanos Tsitsipas, recent champion in Monte Carlo, suffered greatly to beat Facundo Díaz Acosta, who had two match points and in the end was left without reward: 4-6, 6-3 and 7-6(8), after 2h 32m. The Greek, finalist on three occasions (2018, 2021 and 2023), will face Dusan Lajovic (6-4, 3-6 and 6-2 against Arthur Fils) this Saturday (not before 4:00 p.m., Teledeporte and Movistar+). Before (1:30 p.m.) the Norwegian Casper Ruud and the Argentine Tomás Martín Etcheverry will collide, superior in the quarterfinals to Matteo Arnaldi (6-4 and 6-3) and Cameron Norrie (7-6(4) and 7-6(1), respectively. During the course of the day, the Barcelona tournament organization honored the Brazilian judge Carlos Bernardes, one of the most charismatic on the circuit and who, at 58 years old, after more than three decades, will close his career in the field. height of the chair.

NADAL, FROM GODÓ TO MADRID WITHOUT TRUE

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Less than 48 hours after his farewell at the Godó, Rafael Nadal was already hitting the court at the Caja Mágica in Madrid, where if there are no last-minute setbacks, he will compete next week. The 37-year-old Mallorcan published some images from this Friday’s training session. The last time he passed through the San Fermín neighborhood was in 2022, when he was defeated by Carlos Alcaraz in the quarterfinals. Last year he was unable to do so due to the injury to his iliac psoas that forced him to subsequently undergo surgery.

On the other hand, Paula Badosa is a doubt for the Spanish event. The Catalan suffered a “small tear” in her adductor during the fight with Aryna Sabalenka in Stuttgart. “These are not easy times for me,” she admits, at the same time that it is about this latest physical mishap with the aim of being able to jump onto the court in Madrid, one of her favorite tournaments. It is worth remembering that the player from Begur – 93rd in the world, but virtually 99th as of Monday – also has had a major injury to her back for a year.

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2024-04-20 03:15:00
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