The Mallorca Championships are one of the final warm-ups before Wimbledon – fans brave the heatwave to come and watch Credit: Instagram/TheMallorcaChampionships
The Mallorca Championships are serving up world-class tennis and plenty of drama this week as fans flock to Santa Ponça to watch some of the sport’s biggest names in action, despite Mallorca being gripped by soaring temperatures.
Held at the Mallorca Country Club from June 21 to 27, the ATP 250 tournament is the only grass-court event in southern Europe and acts as one of the final warm-ups before Wimbledon. Spectators have packed the stands throughout the opening rounds, many braving temperatures well above 30C to catch a glimpse of top-level tennis in one of the island’s most picturesque sporting settings.
Early shocks delight fans
The opening days of the tournament have already produced several surprise results.
Defending champion Alejandro Tabilo was knocked out in straight sets by Hungary’s Fabián Marozsán, one of the biggest upsets of the week so far. Marozsán followed an impressive first-round victory to secure his place in the quarter-finals and emerge as one of the tournament’s surprise packages.
Elsewhere, seventh seed Mariano Navone and eighth seed Adrian Mannarino both suffered early exits. Lorenzo Sonego defeated Navone in three sets, while Portugal’s Nuno Borges comfortably overcame Mannarino before continuing his strong run by beating Germany’s Jan-Lennard Struff.
Big names still in contention
There has been no shortage of star power on court.
Top seed Luciano Darderi advanced to the quarter-finals after defeating Germany’s Yannick Hanfmann, while Serbia’s Miomir Kecmanović battled back from a set down to beat Lorenzo Sonego in one of the tournament’s most entertaining matches. Former world number three Grigor Dimitrov has also progressed, while Peru’s Ignacio Buse caused a stir by defeating former champion Stefanos Tsitsipas.
With the quarter-finals now under way and several seeded players already eliminated, the race for the Mallorca title is wide open. Yet it is not only the players who have been tested this week. Spectators have endured the island’s early-summer heatwave to watch the action unfold, creating a lively atmosphere around the courts as Mallorca once again showcases its ability to host world-class sport on the international stage.
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