The Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell - Conde de Godó Trophy, held this week at the Real Club de Tenis Barcelona, is once again filled with solidarity thanks to the Aces Solidarios initiative which, since 2008, has donated more than 350,000 euros to different social entities and non-profit organizations so that they can finance various projects. This social action by Banco Sabadell consists of the entity donating 50 euros for each ace or direct service point that players score throughout the competition.
According to the president of Banco Sabadell, Josep Oliu, in addition to providing economic support, "the objective of this initiative is to give visibility to the important work carried out by foundations and organizations dedicated to improving the lives of all those who need it most". Likewise, the banker points out that Aces Solidarios "is part of the entity's commitment to society and our desire to contribute to sustainable development."
Each year, Sabadell chooses several beneficiary entities. The funds raised for this sixteenth edition will go to Fundación Vinjoy, SMS Salut Mental Catalunya, Asapme Asociación Aragonesa Pro Salud Mental, and Proyecto Hombre Sevilla Proyecto Joven. In an event held this Wednesday in the tournament village, representatives of the four entities explained the actions they carry out in their organizations and also thanked Banco Sabadell for the initiative. They agreed on highlighting the importance of the gesture and the support it provides to their work.
The average number of aces counted in each edition of the Open is 470. The maximum figure was recorded in 2008, with 634, and the minimum, in 2011, with 313. Since 2008, more than 50 entities have benefited from the more than 350,000 euros raised.
The Vinjoy Foundation is aimed at young people between 15 and 30 years old, users of the Mental Health Network of the Principality of Asturias who need to acquire, maintain and/or foster certain behavioral, emotional, and social competencies that allow them to achieve greater personal, social, and labor autonomy. The project addresses psychosocial, educational, training, labor, and community participation aspects of young people, providing them with skills, abilities, and contexts that facilitate personal autonomy and independence at all levels.
The Xarxajoves project, by Salut Mental de Catalunya, accompanies young people between 16 and 25 years old with mental health problems in their transition to adult life. They carry out individual plans, group activities, and family support. For its part, Asapme Asociación Aragonesa Pro Salud Mental is a pioneering social entity in the defense of the rights of people with mental illness and in the care of their families. A benchmark in assistance, rehabilitation, support, and social integration, anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia. It has a Child and Adolescent Department specialized in the care of minors and adolescents who present some type of mental health problem.
Finally, Proyecto Joven is a program addressed by Proyecto Hombre Sevilla that serves young people between 14 and 21 years old, with substance use problems, inappropriate use of technologies, pathological gambling, and video game abuse. These problematic behaviors have worsened in recent years with the presence of mental health problems in the youth population. The institution also supports families.
The value of effort
Banco Sabadell highlights that being the main sponsor of this tennis tournament and leading this solidarity initiative is a good way to "link the corporate values of the entity with sports and, especially with those of tennis, a sport of fair play and principles such as effort, the desire for self-improvement, and respect."
The Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell coincides this year with the celebration of the 125th anniversary of the Real Club de Tenis Barcelona. It is the largest annual sporting event hosted by the Catalan capital and, according to Oliu, in addition to being a great "opportunity to project Barcelona to the world," it is a "wonderful occasion to bring Catalan society together and to continue encouraging the practice of tennis" and values such as self-improvement and persistence.
Although Carlos Alcaraz finally withdrew, Rafa Nadal did participate in the 2024 tournament, returning once again—perhaps for the last time as an active professional—to the club that saw him grow as a tennis player. After having won the victory twelve times, this year Nadal bid farewell to the competition this Wednesday after falling in the second round against Australian Alex de Miñaur by 7-5, 6-1. In addition to de Miñaur, other great tennis stars contributing this week to accumulate Aces Solidarios are Stefanos Tsitsipas—three-time tournament finalist—, Audrey Rublev, and Casper Rud, all of them in the top 10 of the international ranking. Tennis players such as Alejandro Davidovich, Roberto Bautista, Ugo Humbert, Sebastian Baez, Fabian Marozsan, Facundo Diaz Acosta, Dusan Lajovic, Brandon Nakashima, and Jaume Munar also attended the event.