The Real Club de Tenis Barcelona-1899 will host
from April 15 to 23 a new edition of the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell – Conde de Godó Trophy tournament, the main sporting event held annually in the Catalan capital, whose brand it promotes internationally. This year, the tennis event is especially significant, as
the Godó turns 70, an anniversary that can be celebrated in style thanks to the confirmed participation of the two great Spanish tennis stars, Rafa Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz. Nadal has been a twelve-time champion in Barcelona, while Alcaraz is the reigning title defender, so both aspire to continue making history on the clay courts of the RCTB-1899. But the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell is much more than sport, as
for nine days the tournament becomes year after year one of the main social and business gatherings in the city."This year, the tournament will once again be the main meeting point for doing business and the stage for closing deals that will boost the city of Barcelona internationally," say its organizers, who this Thursday presented the 70th edition at an event at Montjuïc Castle. "This tournament of national and international projection once again puts Barcelona in the spotlight as an open and vibrant city around the best values of sport," said Josep Oliu, president of Banco Sabadell, the entity that last October, during the presentation.
renewed for three yearsmore as the main sponsor of the competition. According to the veteran banker,
Sabadell feels "completely identified with the values of tennis,where personal effort, self-improvement, and persistence are key." This three-year renewal extends the bank's commitment to Godó to 17 years, making this sponsorship the longest-running in the event's history. The presentation was also attended by the mayor of Barcelona, Ada Colau; along with the president of the RCTB-1899, Jordi Cambra; the CEO of the tournament, Xavier Pujol; the tournament director, David Ferrer; the editorial president of Grupo Godó, Javier Godó, and the Secretary General of Sports of the Generalitat, Anna Caula. The America's Cup sailing event, which will be held in Barcelona in 2024, also participated as guests at the event, and
the world chocolate champion Lluc Crusellas, who will make the 70th-anniversary celebration creation.In a statement, the RCTB-1899 explained that Rafa Nadal will return to the club that saw him grow as a tennis player to continue expanding his legend in a tournament he has won twelve times (2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2021). "Barcelona is his home and the Central Court bears his name (Rafa Nadal Court) since 2017," they recall. For his part, Carlos Alcaraz is the player with the greatest future on the circuit and at 19 years old he has already been able to reach number 1 in the ATP ranking, being the youngest in history to achieve it. His record includes seven titles, among them the US Open 2022. This year he has already won the ATP 250 in Buenos Aires and arrives in Barcelona to defend his triumph achieved last year against Pablo Carreño.
This year, the textile chain Mango, Occident ---the new brand just launched by the Catalana Occidente group---, Grupo Agbar, Pepperstone, Nilox and Clínica del Tenis – Teknon debut as sponsors of the
Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell.
Mango replaces Lacoste and will be the firm in charge of dressing all tournament staff, including all ball boys, line judges, and chair umpires who participate in it and are present on the courts. In addition, the Godó will premiere a new collection of
merchandising exclusive also designed by the firm owned by Isak Andic. For its part, Occident will be the official insurer, entering the tennis sector for the first time.
Carlos Alcaraz emerged as the tournament winner in 2022. These sponsors join Banco Sabadell, the Barcelona City Council and the Generalitat, and other sponsors such as Orange, Grupo Godó, Emirates, Rolex, Cepsa, CUPRA, Dunlop, ISDIN, Font Vella and Vilarnau. As usual, the tournament can be followed live through TVE, TV3 and Movistar+.