The 2016 Mallorca Open is the first edition of this brand-new tournament held on the Spanish island where Rafael Nadal grew up. It might seem odd for a nation dedicated to clay-court tennis to open a tournament with a grass surface, but this is part of the evolving, global nature of the sport. It is also a product of the fact that Nadal won two Wimbledon titles and overcame his limitations to be a very good grass-court player for a stretch of time in his career. It’s also a response to Garbine Muguruza’s run to the 2015 Wimbledon final.
If you’re betting this event, there is value to be found in creating players who can function well on all surfaces. For Americans, this means developing better clay-court players in a nation where hardcourts are the surface of choice, widely available to younger players as they train and practice. In Spain, the goal is to create better grass competency, to supplement the clay-court abilities so many players develop at a comparatively early age in their careers.
The Mallorca Open is a testament to Spain’s willingness to broaden its horizons. The trophy given to the champion of this tournament is the Toni Nadal Trophy, a reminder of the Nadal family’s influence and visibility on the island of Mallorca. The competition in the 32-player main draw will begin on Monday, June 13. Let’s see if Muguruza’s star power is limited to just clay or whether it can carry over to grass.
Event Details
Event: Mallorca Open
Category: WTA International Level
Date: June 13 – 19, 2016
Location: Santa Ponsa Tennis Club – Mallorca, Spain
With a prize money allotment of $250,000, this tournament is making a cautious first step into the structure of the WTA Tour. Organizers are anxious to see if this event can grow over time. Something entirely new brings with it a sense of optimism, but also some apprehension. We’ll just have to wait to see how this tournament unfolds, not just in terms of the level of play, but the way it is received by the public in Spain, a country accustomed to clay-court tennis.
