After long weeks of wait without significant updates, Portugal Open saw the Portuguese Government confirm that the tournament would be declared as of public interest. Fifteen days later, tournament’s director João Lagos has finally been able to confirm it’s 25th edition.
Due to the crisis and the lack of investors, Portugal Open reached the month of february without having a single player confirmed for this year’s edition and with João Lagos saying the organization needed at least 1.5 million euros to assure the 25th edition.
Lagos was supposed to make a final statment about the continuity of the event until last sunday, but managed to extend the deadline until this thursday’s morning, announcing the tournament will go on with a “Habemus Open” published from the official pages of the event on Facebook and Twitter.
Played since 1990 near Lisbon, tournament in now a mixed ATP 250 and WTA International event and year after year is described as one of the best venues of the tour and also as one of the most important tournaments of preparation for Roland Garros, the second Major of the regular season.
Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Juan Martin del Potro, Stanislas Wawrinka, David Ferrer, Gaston Gaudion, David Nalbandian, Carlos Moya, Sergi Bruguera, Emilio Sanchez are amongst the players that played the tournament in the past years, with Li Na, Victoria Azarenka, Caroline Wozniacki, Dinara Safina and Marion Bartoli figuring in last years’ women main draws.
