Rafael Nadal opens next academy in Greece - is there an ATP tournament?
In addition to his academy in Mallorca and a training base in Mexico, Rafael Nadal presented another prestige project. The Spaniard will open his third youth forge in Greece next May, trying to support the tennis euphoria surrounding Stefanos Tsitsipas and Maria Sakkari. The former could soon look forward to a home tournament.
by Lukas Zahrer
last edit: Feb 24, 2019, 06:37 pm
Only last week Nadal was on site at the opening of the tennis center in Mexico. “I am very grateful to the Sani Resort. This strengthens the expansion of our academies, ”said the Spaniard about the project in southern Europe.
Sani is a popular vacation spot on the Halkidiki peninsula near Thessaloniki. The newest branch of the Rafa Nadal Academy is to be integrated in the so-called Sani Resort, a hotel complex that extends over 400 hectares.
“Our goal is to be able to offer high-quality tennis training for our guests and people in our catchment area. They should be able to take part in courses and programs that are tailored to all player profiles and strengths, ”says the Rafa Nadal Academy website.
The coaches, who will head the tennis center in Greece, are to be trained for two months in February at the academy in Mallorca - including chairman Toni Nadal and technical director Carlos Moya. Weekly children's courses should be available from 250 euros.
ATP tournament? Rumors of an event in Greece
In addition to the positive development for Greek tennis, there have been rumors in recent weeks that the ATP tour could soon make a stop in the home country of Australian Open semi-finalists Tsitsipas.
“I know there are some people who are interested in the tour returning to Greece. They showed me the plans of the project, of course it should take place in Athens, ”Tsitsipas told Reuters.
And further: "If things continue as in the past few months, we will see a 250 or 500 tournament in the next three or four years."
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But despite the great enthusiasm of the Greek number one, the ATP currently does not want to know about an event. “We are pleased about the interest in an ATP tournament in Greece. But up to the present time, we have not received an application to move another tournament that would be required, ”said the ATP.
Athens was the venue for a men's tournament between 1986 and 1994. Horst Skoff, like Sergi Bruguera, is one of the winners. The women made guest appearances with the WTA tour in the Greek capital between 1986 and 1990.