A royal stop in Morocco

Morocco has hosted the Grand Prix Hassan II, an Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) tournament, from 10 to 16 April. The event, which is the only ATP World Tour event on the African continent, took place in Marrakech this year, relocated from Casablanca in 2016.

Organisers have taken advantage of the tournament to boost tourism and promote “The Western Kingdom” on an international scale. Additionally, the tournament has also anchored the sport amongst locals as well as the international tennis fraternity.

Over the years the tournament has drawn many big names in tennis, including the French trio, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Gaël Monfils and Gilles Simon, and is expected to also attract international favourites this year. And with a total prize money of 450,000 EUR, it’s little surprise why it’s frequented by many of the world’s top tennis players.

Tennis has been considered an elite sport in Morocco for many years but the Grand Prix Hassan II has made it accessible to many locals. Every year thousands of spectators rush to see some of the sporting greats in action, which only confirms the Moroccans’ interest in the sport.

Two Moroccans, Hicham Arazi (1997) and Younes El Aynaoui (2002), have won the Grand Prix Hassan II in their home country before.