Staged at the Club de Tenis Puente Romano, Marbella, the Andalusia Tennis Experience comes into the bracket of International Series of the (Women’s Tennis Association) WTA. The inaugural event of this women’s tennis tournament was held in 2009 and since then has created buzz around the tennis circuit.

The 2010 edition of the tournament is scheduled to be held in Marbella for the second consecutive year between 3^rd and 11^th April. This time, too, the tournament will bring some of world’s best players, including the reigning World Number 1 Serena Williams.

Besides, the Spanish Anabel Medina Garrigues, Maria Jose Martinez, Anabel Medina and last year’s runner-up Carla Suarez have confirmed their participation.

Players like Martinez, winner of 1994 Wimbledon tournament feels that Andalucía Tennis Experience is one of the best opportunity to see world-class tennis, and also to provide support to Spanish women tennis.

Earlier in the month, Mayoress Ángeles Muñoz had expressed her delight in holding the event and hosting some world-class players in the very stylish Marbella resort town. The Mayoress also stressed on the positive aspect of blending sports and tourism in promotion of city’s image.

The tournament director and former player Conchita Martinez is also expecting another successful event with greater enthusiasm from the locals. As the event is covered by national and international media, the nine-day long sporting extravaganza will also attract large international spectators.

The inaugural Andalucia Tennis Experience title was won by the Serbian Jelena Jankovic who beat Carla Suarez Navarro 6-3 3-6 6-3 in the final.

Venue Location

The Club is located in the Costa del Sol region in the very heart of lovely Golden Mile. Just 35 minutes drive from the Malaga Airport, it is easily accessible by public transport, in addition to prepaid taxis and airport transfers.

Fast Facts

Prize Money: $220.000
Number of match days: 9 (From 03 to 11 April 2010)
Number of players Singles: 32
Number of players Doubles: 32 (16 pairs)
Players in wheelchair: 8
Courts: Four clay courts, and the capacity of the Centre Court is 2,500

For more information, you may visit the official website: www.andaluciatennis.com

In tribute to the women athletes in Marbella, the delegate of Municipal de Igualdad, Mariana Alvarez and the Sports Councillor, Angel Mora, on Wednesday (March 03) inaugurated, a photo exhibition “Women and Sport”, which will be on display until March 17 from 9 am to 14 pm at the Exhibition Hall of the Historic Centre (Street Salinas, 4).

Several administrative members of the City Council, accompanied by few athletes expressed their contentment for drawing a good amount of public response when they received over 500 snapshots of which a selection of photographs are on display.

Angel Mora said that some sample photographs will be featured in this exhibition while other will be kept for future exhibition. “The initiative is a tribute to women athletes, both professionals and amateurs to females in any discipline,” he added.

The municipality has great female athletes in many modalities such as gymnastics, athletics, golf, tennis, paddle tennis, climbing, football and swimming. And such effort from the municipal body will certainly give recognition to young women players who are daily in sport either in schools, or who want to contribute more in professional sports.

Exhibition “Women and Sport” is also a great tribute to women when the world is going to celebrate the International Women’s Day on 8^th of March.

It is to be mentioned here that the Mayoress of Marbella Angela Muñoz has already announced the hosting of the women’s tennis tournament “Andalusia Tennis Experience” for the second consecutive year here in Marbella. This is an international tournament and hence will bring the best women tennis players in the world, including Serena Williams. It is scheduled to be held between the 3rd and 11th of April.

Whether it’s any sports event or an exhibition, the sole objective is to encourage and support promotion of women in sport at all levels. And being one of the high-profile cities of Spain, the effort of Marbella Town Hall is indeed laudable.