Name: Estoril Open
Date: 30.04.2012-06.05.2012
Surface: Clay / Outdoors
ATP
Category: ATP World Tour 250
Draw Size: S-28 D-16
Prize Money: € 398,250
WTA
Category: International
Draw Size: S-32 D-16
Prize Money: $220,000
Estoril Hosts Both Tours In Spring Clay Tournament
The Estoril Open began as an ATP event in 1990, and became a combined men’s and women’s tournament in 1998 – making it one of only three European spring clay court stops (also Roland Garros, Rome) to feature both tours playing side-by-side. Four ATP World Tour Champions have titled in Estoril: Thomas Muster, Carlos Moya, Juan Carlos Ferrero and Roger Federer.
Among those who have graced the red clay at Estádio Nacional are Grand Slam champs Victoria Azarenka, Justine Henin, Petra Kvitova, Iva Majoli, Li Na and Francesca Schiavone. The only player with multiple Estoril Open titles is Magui Serna, who was victorious in 2002 and 2003. In 2006, the event showcased the first all-Chinese final in WTA history, between Li and Zheng Jie.
An exclusive resort beach town known to attract the rich and famous, Estoril lies less than 20 miles west of Portugal's capital, Lisbon. It is widely known for its large casino, which was the inspiration for the first of Ian Fleming's James Bond books, "Casino Royale".
Who Is Playing
Juan Martin Del Potro, Richard Gasquet, Stanislas Wawrinka, Albert Montañes, Albert Ramos, Robin Haase, Denis Istomin, Frederico Gil
Del Potro Back For Title Defence
World No. 10 Juan Martin del Potro triumphed on his second visit to Estoril last year, defeating Fernando Verdasco in the final. The Argentine is set to play his ATP World Tour clay-court tournament of the season and is chasing his second title of 2012 after victory at the Open 13 in Marseille.
Gasquet Returns - World No. 18 Richard Gasquet returns to Estoril for the first time since 2007, when he finished runner-up to Novak Djokovic in the final. The Frenchman is chasing his first title in nearly two years.
Wawrinka Makes Debut - World No. 22 Stanislas Wawrinka bids for his first ATP World Tour title in more than a year as he makes his debut in Estoril. The Swiss has already reached two clay-court semi-finals this season.
Home Favourite - Portuguese No. 1 Frederico Gil is set to make his seventh appearance in Estoril. The Lisbon native reached the final in 2010, finishing runner-up to Albert Montanes, and has a 10-6 event record.
Past Champions
Year Draws Singles Doubles
2011 S|D Juan Martin Del Potro Eric Butorac / Jean-Julien Rojer
2010 S|D Albert Montanes Marc Lopez / David Marrero
2009 S|D Albert Montanes Eric Butorac / Scott Lipsky
2008 S|D Roger Federer Jeff Coetzee / Wesley Moodie
2007 S|D Novak Djokovic Marcelo Melo / Andre Sa
2006 S|D David Nalbandian Lukas Dlouhy / Pavel Vizner
2005 S|D Gaston Gaudio Frantisek Cermak / Leos Friedl
2004 S|D Juan Ignacio Chela Juan Ignacio Chela / Gaston Gaudio
2003 S|D Nikolay Davydenko Mahesh Bhupathi / Max Mirnyi
2002 S|D David Nalbandian Karsten Braasch / Andrei Olhovskiy
2001 S|D Juan Carlos Ferrero Radek Stepanek / Michal Tabara
2000 S|D Carlos Moya Donald Johnson / Piet Norval
1999 S|D Albert Costa Tomas Carbonell / Donald Johnson
1998 S|D Alberto Berasategui Donald Johnson / Francisco Montana
1997 S|D Alex Corretja Gustavo Kuerten / Fernando Meligeni
1996 S|D Thomas Muster Tomas Carbonell / Francisco Roig
1995 S|D Thomas Muster Yevgeny Kafelnikov / Andrei Olhovskiy
1994 S|D Carlos Costa Cristian Brandi / Federico Mordegan
1993 S|D Andrei Medvedev David Adams / Andrei Olhovskiy
1992 S|D Carlos Costa Hendrik Jan Davids / Libor Pimek
1991 S|D Sergi Bruguera Paul Haarhuis / Mark Koevermans
1990 S|D Emilio Sanchez Sergio Casal / Emilio Sanchez
Medina Garrigues Bids To Retain Title; Vinci, Kirilenko, Cetkovska In 2012 Field
Anabel Medina Garrigues will look to retain her Estoril Open title and lift her 12th career trophy.
The 28-year-old Spaniard has won 10 clay-court titles, the most among active players (the next best is Venus Williams with nine). Last year, she became the first Spaniard to win the Estoril Open title since 2003, when Magui Serna successfully defended her crown.
Medina Garrigues will face Italian Robert Vinci, Russian Maria Kirilenko and Petra Cetkovska of the Czech Republic at the WTA International tournament, which boasts $220,000 in prize money.
Vinci's best result this year came at Acapulco, when the 28 year old lost in the semi-finals to Sara Errani, while Kirilenko has reached the Pattaya City final (l. to Hantuchova).
There are two other former titlists in the women's field, including China's Jie Zheng (2006) and Kirilenko (2008). Russian Ekaterina Makarova finished runner-up in 2009.
Estoril Open Tournament Director Joao Lagos said, "For all the fans we dedicate our efforts in decreasing the tickets prices for this edition, in a way that everyone will feel pleased to visit the Estoril Open and enjoy with us the best tennis atmosphere ever in Portugal."
Past Chaampions
2011 Anabel Medina Garrigues
2010 Anastasija Sevastova
2009 Yanina Wickmayer
2008 Maria Kirilenko
2007 Gréta Arn
2006 Zheng Jie
2005 Lucie Šafářová
2004 Émilie Loit
2003 Magüi Serna
2002 Magüi Serna
2001 Ángeles Montolio
2000 Anke Huber
1999 Katarina Srebotnik
1998 Barbara Schwartz
