Open Menorca pays tribute to Orantes and Corretja in a ceremony steeped in Spanish tennis history

The Club Tenis Ciutadella honoured two iconic figures from different generations of Spanish tennis in a ceremony that brought together three key milestones in the sport’s national history

The II Open Menorca ATP Challenger 100 delivered one of the standout moments of its second edition this Tuesday, 30 March, with a special Tribute Ceremony dedicated to Manuel Orantes and Alex Corretja on the newly refurbished Centre Court at Club Tenis Ciutadella, following the opening day of qualifying.

Organised by the tournament team in collaboration with the club, the event brought together institutional representatives and key figures from the circuit to celebrate the careers of two of Spain’s most influential tennis players.

A tribute framed by three historic milestones

The ceremony carried added significance as 2026 marks three major milestones linking both players to Club Tenis Ciutadella: the 50th anniversary of Manuel Orantes’ Masters triumph in 1976, 25 years since Alex Corretja competed at the venue in official competition, and the 50th anniversary of the Menorcan club itself—celebrating half a century as one of the island’s leading sporting institutions.

Three milestones converging on the same stage—the club’s clay courts—highlighting the deep connection between the tournament, the venue and two defining eras of Spanish tennis.

Institutional recognition and sporting legacy

The tribute featured the presence of Adolfo Villafranca, President of the Consell Insular de Menorca; Ahmed Abdel-Azim, ATP Supervisor; Miguel Ángel Plasencia, Vice-President of Club Tenis Ciutadella; and Toni Capó, CEO of BioSport and tournament promoter, alongside the two honourees.

During the ceremony, the club unveiled commemorative plaques naming courts two and three after Orantes and Corretja respectively. The club’s vice-president also announced that both players have been granted honorary membership.

In addition, the Open Menorca organisation presented three commemorative trophies—identical to those that will be awarded to the tournament champions on 5 April—to Orantes, Corretja and the club itself.

Two careers that shaped an era

The tribute celebrated the legacy of Manuel Orantes, one of the most prominent figures in Spanish tennis history. He won the US Open in 1975 after one of the most memorable comebacks in the sport, was runner-up at Roland Garros in 1974 and became the first Spaniard to win the Masters in 1976. Over the course of his career, he collected dozens of titles and built an outstanding record on clay, with 569 wins on the surface—one of the most remarkable tallies in the game.

Alongside him, Alex Corretja—former world No. 2 (1999), ATP Finals champion in 1998, two-time Roland Garros finalist (1998, 2001), member of Spain’s first Davis Cup-winning team in 2000 and Olympic medallist in doubles in Sydney—represents the continuation of that legacy into the modern era, both on and off the court.

During the ceremony, both players shared their thoughts on the recognition:

• Manuel Orantes: “I’m very happy to have lived and enjoyed tennis the way I have. It’s also been a pleasure to see Alex succeed—he trained at Club de la Salut like I did, and we both worked with the same coach, Pedro Mora.”
• Alex Corretja: “As soon as I stepped onto the court, I felt a special emotion remembering the match I won here.”

A connection that spans generations

Both players also share a common link with Club Tennis de la Salut in Barcelona, which has been twinned with Club Tenis Ciutadella for decades—further strengthening the symbolic value of the tribute held in Menorca.

The institutional and territorial importance of the event was also reflected in the remarks from attending representatives:

• Miguel Ángel Plasencia recalled several anecdotes about both players and highlighted the similarities between Orantes’ and Corretja’s Masters victories, both achieved in five-set matches.
• Toni Capó: “It’s an honour for Open Menorca to pay tribute to two figures of the stature of Manuel Orantes and Alex Corretja on the newly renovated Centre Court of the host club.”
• Adolfo Villafranca: “It’s a privilege for Menorca to host a tournament like this and to bring together two great figures such as Orantes and Corretja for this well-deserved tribute on our island.”

An event aligned with the tournament’s growth

The Tribute Ceremony forms part of the broader programme of the Open Menorca ATP Challenger 100, a Challenger 100 event that continues to strengthen its position within the international calendar.

Beyond competition, the tournament is reinforcing its identity through initiatives that connect the present of the circuit with the history of the sport, in a setting like Club Tenis Ciutadella that remains an active part of that journey.