Roberto Bautista and Alejandro Davidovich are among the favorites to win the Estoril Open luso, which will start a new edition this Saturday.
Bautista, ranked number 28, was invited at the last minute after his early exit from the Miami Open, while Davidovich is looking to go beyond the quarterfinals reached in 2022.
But along the way they will meet tough opponents, like the Norwegian Casper Ruudnumber four in the list of the best tennis players in the world, who will participate for the first time in the most important tennis competition in Portugal.
Another of the tennis heavyweights on the Portuguese court is ninth in the list drawn by the ATP, the Polish Hubert Hurkacz.
The president of the Estoril Open, João Zilhão, confirms that he “sees a great attendance” of the publicor for this tournament, which takes place in the middle of Holy Week and in a region known for its sun and beaches.
The director also highlights that it is “more than a tennis event”, because in addition to the duels on clay, it will have a great focus on children’s entertainment, culture and gastronomy, with more than 15 concepts of ‘ street food’.
Gastronomy is certainly one of the elements that attracts not only the public, but also some of the best tennis players in the world to this competition, according to its leader.
In addition, the Estoril Open offers “the safety and kindness of the Portuguese public, the players feel special here,” Zilhão told EFE.
It will also be the first edition without restrictions due to the pandemic, which has caused “three very difficult years”.
In 2020 it was cancelled, in 2021 it was played without fans in the stands and last year the players even “couldn’t give autographs, they couldn’t be with the public,” he recalled.
“I am very happy that by 2023 we will be back to normal and that will be amazing“, he emphasized.
SPANISH AND ARGENTINE TALENT ON STAGE
Between April 1 and 9, the coastal town of Estoril, about 25 kilometers from Lisbon, will once again host many tennis players from Spain and Argentina, a regular presence in this tournament.
In addition to Davidovich and Bautista, Estoril will host names in Spanish tennis such as Bernabé Zapata Miralles (41), Alberto Ramos (51), eliminated by Báez in the 2022 semifinals, and Pedro Martínez (121).
Diego Schwartzman, number 38 in the world, Pedro Cachín (63) and Camilo Ugo Carabelli (127) will represent Argentina.
This ATP 250 clay court tournament has been held since 1990, and among its winners are the Serbian Novak Djokovic, the Swiss Roger Federer and the Spanish Sergi Bruguera and Pablo Carreño, among others.
Source: La Verdad
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