Ace skills on display in the women's championships Credit: Instagram/MallorcaWomensChamps
Mallorca has welcomed international tennis talent as the Vanda Pharmaceuticals Mallorca Women’s Championships got underway in Magaluf on Saturday, October 10, with rising stars, local hopefuls and a tennis legend taking centre stage.
The WTA 125 tournament runs until Sunday, October 18, bringing a week of professional women’s tennis to Calvià. Matches are being played on clay courts at the Magaluf Sports Centre, with 32 players competing in the singles draw and eight teams contesting the doubles title.
Local players make their mark
Mallorcan tennis fans have a particular reason to follow the competition this year, with local player Cristina Díaz Adrover earning a wild card into qualifying after winning the pre-tournament Road to Vanda Pharmaceuticals event.
Díaz defeated Isabel Adrover Gallego 6-2, 6-2 in the final on October 10, earning the opportunity to compete against international professionals on home soil.
She continued her impressive run in Sunday’s qualifying matches, coming from a set down to beat seventh seed Sapfo Sakellaridi 1-6, 6-4, 6-3. The victory kept local hopes alive as players battled for places in the main draw.
Mireia Sagristá Bermejo was also awarded a qualifying wild card, adding to the island’s representation at the event.
However, Díaz’s campaign came to an end on Monday, October 12, when she was beaten 6-0, 6-0 by 16-year-old German prospect Ida Wobker, who secured her first place in a WTA tournament’s main draw.
The result highlighted the level of competition facing emerging players as they look to establish themselves on the professional circuit.
Tennis legend returns to Mallorca
One of the biggest attractions away from the courts is Gabriela Sabatini, the former world number three who has returned as tournament ambassador.
The Argentine tennis great won the US Open in 1990 and an Olympic silver medal in 1988. Her involvement brings an extra touch of star power to the event, while supporting its focus on developing the next generation of women’s tennis.
Sabatini has spoken about the importance of WTA 125 tournaments, which give rising players valuable opportunities to gain experience, build their rankings and progress towards the sport’s biggest competitions.
The tournament also features an international field, including defending champion Solana Sierra of Argentina and Austrian player Julia Grabher.
More than just tennis
Organisers are combining professional sport with activities designed to broaden the tournament’s appeal, including tennis clinics and gastronomic experiences at Mallorca Country Club.
The championship is supported by Calvià Town Hall and co-financed through the Balearic Government’s Sustainable Tourism Tax Fund and the Fundació Turisme Responsable de Mallorca.
With the final scheduled for October 18, the competition offers spectators the chance to watch international women’s tennis while discovering another side of Magaluf beyond its traditional holiday image.