OFFICIAL PROGRAM 10 ITF SENIORS BARCELONA GRADE 1 10th ITF Barcelona Seniors Championship From July 13th to July 18th 2015 1 10 ITF SENIORS BARCELONA SUMMARY Greeting President Real Club de Polo of Barcelona 3 Greeting Director ITF Barcelona Seniors Championship 4 118 years of sports at RCPB 5 Welcome!6 10 years of history 8 Much more than a sporting event 10 Interview Andrew Rae 12 Winners of previous editions 14 Interview Eva Bes 18 Barcelona 20 Innovations22 Interview Jaime Furió 24 International tournament 26 How to reach us? & Tournament Information 27 ITF 2.029 Homage Giorgio Paravati Edition Supervision Collaboration Department of Ruth Birk Joan Chico Raquel Rios Eudaldo Bonet José R. de Gispert Writing Editorial Production Gemma Valls Marc Oliva communication ITF Barcelona Seniors Av. Dr. Marañón, 19-31, Barcelona 08029 Photography Albert Obiol 2 30 EUDALDO BONET FERRER, President of Real Club de Polo de Barcelona We would like to welcome you to the 10th edition of the ITF Seniors Grade 1 of the Real Club de Polo of Barcelona with greatest satisfaction. These 10 years have been full of competition, as well as friendships and social harmony, and our Club has established strong bonds with tennis players from around the world. Since its foundation in 1897, the Real Club de Polo of Barcelona has devoted a lot of attention to sports, always encouraging people to practice while also organizing competitive events of all categories, both territorial and international. Tennis is the most practiced sport by the members of our club, and our huge, high-quality facilities including 38 clay courts, satisfy everybody’s needs and desires. There are almost 900 students in our Club. It is a pleasure for the Real Club de Polo of Barcelona to welcome the big Tennis family through our ITF Barcelona Seniors Championship. We hope the tournament leaves a lasting impression on you and wish you a successful week. 3 10 ITF SENIORS BARCELONA JOSÉ R. DE GISPERT, Director of ITF Barcelona Seniors It is a pleasure for us to welcome the ITF Barcelona Seniors Championship participants to the 10th edition of the tournament. These 10 years have been full of prodigious tennis level and have tightened friendships between players from around the world. Our tournament has been getting better each year. It received the Grade 1 category in 2013, which we are very proud of. That remark encourages us to continue improving so that you tennis players feel comfortable and are able to develop your game in ideal conditions. Aside from our 38 clay courts and the pleasant village area, a professional and excited organizing committee works hard so all the ITF Barcelona Seniors Championship participants enjoy their matches and their time in our Club. Moreover, the members of the Real Club de Polo of Barcelona welcome everybody with open arms, willing to learn as well as share with you their tennis experience. It is an honor for us to have tennis participants from many different categories, +35 to +85. This tournament is definitely a big tennis party. 4 To all collaborative companies I want to express my gratitude for their confidence and valuable support. We hope the 10th ITF Barcelona Seniors Championship leaves a good impression on you. To all collaborative companies I want to express my gratitude for their confidence and valuable support. 118 YEARS OF SPORTS AT RC POLO DE BARCELONA The Real Club de Polo of Barcelona’s history began 118 years ago thanks to an initiative by a group of polo players. Since its creation, in 1897, the Club has been on the rise in the sports and social life scene of Barcelona. Today, the big club family is comprised of more than 10,000 members, making it one of the largest member entities in the city and in all of Europe. With five sporting categories: horse racing, field hockey, polo, paddle tennis and tennis, the RC Polo has been adapting its infrastructures and services by adding modernity but without leaving the tradition behind. All of these sports have been developing and have become a part of the club life. Each sport organizes social, regional, national and even international events at the maximum level. In tennis, aside from the ITF Barcelona Seniors Championship, tournaments as important as the Potter Cup, the Ester Bueno Cup, the World Senior Championship, the Italy Cup, the Challenger ATP, the Crawford Cup, the Junior Davis Cup and the Federation Cup have been celebrated on the courts of the Club too. On the other hand, competitions like the International Hockey Reyes Tournament, the International Showjumping Competition (CSIO), the International Tournament Barcelona Polo Classic, and the International Padel of Catalonia, which is part of the World Paddle Tour, also take place at Polo’s facilities, attracting the best athletes worldwide in these disciplines. In line with the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games, the Real Club de Polo of Barcelona – seat of the Show Jumping and Dressage – was subjected to a 29-hectare remodel of its facilities. Now it is one of the biggest international sports clubs, and it still wants to continue growing, guided everyday by an intense passion for sports. 5 10 ITF SENIORS BARCELONA THE MAGIC COMES BACK TO RCPB’S COURTS With the start of the summer comes the 10th edition of the ITF Barcelona Seniors Championship. For the tenth consecutive year, the courts of Real Club de Polo of Barcelona will have the privilege of hosting the best senior tennis in the world. With 30 clay courts available for the tournament, extraordinary facilities and the exceptional service of a human capital that makes this tournament possible, there is sure to be success. And what better a place than Barcelona, a magic city and a sports reference, to experience an intense week of tennis and friendship! With annual player participation from around the world, the tournament has become more than just tennis matches. For many, participating in the ITF Barcelona Seniors Championship is a way to relive feelings, continue enjoying sports without age limits, travel, and meet with international friends. ...Welcome! 6 WEL LCOME! 7 10 ITF SENIORS BARCELONA 10 YEARS OF HISTORY The ITF Barcelona Seniors Championship was born in 2006 when a group of people passionate about senior tennis decided to organize a tournament at the Real Club de Polo of Barcelona. What started as a simple project evolved over the years until it turned into what it is today, one of the best tournaments in the world. In the first five years, the tournament belonged to the Grade 5 category of the ITF, which is the lowest category in senior tournaments. In 2010, the Club took over and started to monitor the organizational structure of the ITF Barcelona Seniors. With this change, the tournament experienced a brilliant growth and continued to move up year after year until it achieved the maximum distinction of the ITF, Grade 1, in 2013. In Spain, there are only two tournaments of this category. From this quality jump, the tournament continued to increase, reaching more than 400 participants from all over the world, with 11 different categories of draws. Today, some of the best players worldwide take part in it, while continuing to respect the philosophy of welcoming both pro and amateur players from the senior circuit. The staff that coor- 8 dinated the event in 2010 was formed by 5 people. Today, there are more than 25 workers that make up the tournament staff. The organization consists of different groups: communication, logistics, restoration, maintenance and referees, who work to ensure all participants have a unique experience. On a social level, the ITF Barcelona Seniors aims to be more than a simple tennis tournament. Above all else, it extends beyond the courts and organizes all kind of activities, like daily barbecues, live music, shows and performances. 9 10 ITF SENIORS BARCELONA MUCH MORE THAN A SPORTING EVENTRTIVO The ITF Barcelona Seniors goes beyond the tennis courts. Daily activities are organized so everyone can enjoy the atmosphere of the competition. Performances and Shows Dance performances, music bands, and magic shows will complement the barbecues every night to liven up the evening! Welcome Cocktail On Tuesday July 14th, the tournament will kick off with the Welcome Cocktail celebration at the Village Area that will welcome all the participants of the 10th edition of the ITF Barcelona Seniors Championship. Official dinner and awards ceremony On Saturday 18th, the official dinner and awards ceremony will be held to conclude the event and congratulate all players. There will also be a raffle in which everyone attending the dinner can participate. At the end of the awards ceremony, there will be music and disco at the Village area to say goodbye to the tournament. Barbecue From Monday 13th to Saturday 18th, starting at 20h, daily barbecues will take place at the heart of the tennis zone of the Real Club de Polo of Barcelona, where all the assistants will be able to taste different types of meats. Since the tournament is played during the evening, dinner is an essential piece and creates a social and distended atmosphere in which players and companions are able to enjoy a great meal and relax after a long day of tennis. 10 11 10 ITF SENIORS BARCELONA INTERVIEW ANDREW RAE (Australia), reigning champion +65 ITF “I do a lot of travel each year because was 10 years old when he first started play- Australia does not have many senior tournaments so we need to be in Europe to compete ing tennis. His dad, who also played tennis and maintain our ITF ranking. I am hoping and had been a great football player in his now to spend 4 or 5 months in Germany. I youth, was always his biggest motivation. travel either with a few Australian players “My father was the driving force behind me or on my own. In all these tournaments we playing.” usually see many of the same players. The Rae was a very active and successful junior friendships with people from all over the player in his country, and at 19 was awarded world are something I value a lot. I enjoy this lifestyle and the camaraderie that it offers a full scholarship at the University of San me.” Diego, California. Later on, at the age of Andrew Rae, from Melbourne, Australia, 35, he became interested in senior tennis. Rae has participated in the ITF Barcelona Seniors Championship four times, and he a year on the ITF senior circuit and the world championships. Rae has won 7 world says it is a pleasure for him to be back this year. Like many other players, he really individual championships, 9 world doubles values the summer climate, the evening championships and 8 world cups, and has been honored with prestigious awards such scheduling, the exceptional facilities of as the “John Newcombe senior player of the the club, and the social atmosphere of the year” on two different occasions. Since he is tournament. from Australia, he has to travel a lot in order “I love Barcelona and feel so privileged to be given the opportunity to come back every to compete, but he adjusts to this life style year. Also, the club is beautiful and the very well. Last year, he even sold his busiconvenience of having the hotel so close is ness so he could have more time to spend in such a bonus. Throughout the year, I play Europe. Currently, he plays about 12 tournaments 12 some tournaments in the U.S., but mainly I play in Germany, Austria, France and Spain. The Barcelona week is very different to any others. The tournament organization does a great job considering the number of competitors. Having players coming from over 30 different countries is testament to the quality and enjoyment we all get from competing.” “I love Barcelona and feel so privileged to be given the opportunity to come back every year” 13 10 ITF SENIORS BARCELONA WINNERS ITF SENIORS MEN +35 +50 2014: Jose-Maria Vicente (Spain) 2014: Francisco García (Spain) 2013: J. Vicente (Spain) 2013: Francisco García (Spain) 2012: Eduardo Sanz (Spain) 2012: Francisco García (Spain) 2011: Eduardo Sanz (Spain) 2011: Francisco García (Spain) 2010: Fabio Beraldo (Italy) 2010: Eduard Osta (Spain) +40 +55 2014: Emilio Benfele-Alvarez (Spain) 2014: Miquel Mir (Spain) 2013: J. Viloca-Puig (Spain) 2013: Miquel Mir (Spain) 2012: José Maria Blasi (Spain) 2012: Carlos Behar (Colombia) 2011: José Maria Blasi (Spain) 2011: Miquel Mir (Spain) 2010: José Maria Blasi (Spain) 2010: Rafael Ruiz (Spain) +45 +60 2014: Taras Beyko (Canadá) 2014: Andrew Rae (Australia) 2013: Kenneth Thome (Costa Rica) 2013: Andrew Rae (Australia) 2012: Carlos Costa (Spain) 2012: Vittorio Costella (Italy) 2011: Carlos Costa (Spain) 2011: Jorge Camina (Spain) 2010: Carlos Costa (Spain) 2010: Lluís Flo (Spain) 14 +65 +80 2014: Luis Flor de la Morena (Spain) 2014: Jaime Furió (Spain) 2013: J. Velasco (Spain) 2013: Jaime Furió (Spain) 2012: Luis Flor de la Morena (Spain) 2012: Jaime Furió (Spain) 2011: José Maria Gisbert (Spain) 2011: Francisco Guillén (Spain) 2010: José Maria Gisbert (Spain) +70 2014: Johannes Muehlenburg (Austria) 2013: Aldo Carboni (Italy) +85 2014: Juan Mir (Spain) 2013: Francisco Guillén (Spain) 2012: Francisco Guillén (Spain) 2012: Stanislav Kuchovsky (Czech Republic) 2011: Klaus Jürgen Klein (Germany) 2010: Antonio Barberà (Spain) +75 2014: Klaus Jürgen Klein (Germany) 2013: Klaus Jürgen Klein (Germany) 2012: Elias Sagarminaga (Spain) 2011: Jaime Furio (Spain) 2010: Jaime Furio (Spain) 15 10 ITF SENIORS BARCELONA WINNERS ITF SENIORS WOMEN +35 +50 2014: Ramón, Maria (Spain) 2014: Klaartje Van Baarle (Belgium) 2013: Gisela Riera (Spain) 2013: Ana Almansa (Spain) 2012: Gisela Riera (Spain) 2012: Ingrid Gutmann-Resch (Austria) 2011: Gisela Riera (Spain) 2011: Francesca Ciardi (Italy) 2010: Ana Salas (Spain) 2010: Patricia Armet (Spain) +40 +55 2014: Eva Bes (Spain) 2014: Stewart Anthea (Great Britain) 2013: Eva Bes (Spain) 2013: Rosa María Togores (Spain) 2012: Paula Cabezas (Spain) 2011: Klaartje Van Baarle (Belgium) 2010: Flora Perfetti (Italy) +45 2014: Ana Maria Segura (Spain) 2013: Pavla Mrazova (Czech Republic) 2012: Pavla Mrazova (Czech Republic) 2011: Klaartje Van Baarle (Belgium) 2010: Klaartje Van Baarle (Belgium) 16 2012: Carloyn Nichols (United States) 2011: Lyn Mortimer (Australia) 2010: Lyn Mortimer (Australia) +60 2014: Encarnacion Gomis (Spain) 2013: Dagmar Sperneder (Austria) 2012: Dagmar Sperneder (Austria) 2011: Fiamma Cocco (Italy) 2010: Fiamma Cocco (Italy) +65 +75 2014: Annick Bascou (France) 2014 Moreau, Jacqueline (France) 2013: Heide Orth (Germany) 2012: Heide Orth (Germany) 2011: Adelaida Torrens (Spain) +70 2014: Heide Orth (Germany) 2013: Adelaida Torrens (Spain) 2012: Maria Mercedes Guix (Spain) 2011: Lluïsa Torras (Spain) 17 10 ITF SENIORS BARCELONA INTERVIEW EVA BES (Spain), reigning champion +40 ITF Eva Bes, from Zaragoza, told her mom when she was 9 years old that she did not like rhythmic gymnastics and that she wanted to play tennis like her three older brothers. Nobody expected that later on she would reach 89 on the women’s worldwide ranking and that Pablo, one of her brothers, would turn into her personal coach during her 15 years as a professional player. Eva won the Aragon championship in the absolute category when she was only 13, becoming the youngest player to hold the title, and the Spanish championship in the same category at 18. She also won the Roland Garros Junior Doubles championship and participated in the 4 Grand Slams. She was able to get to the third round of Roland Garros, where she was defeated by Amelie Mauresmo. Last March, she won the World Team Champi- “I love tennis, I love the competition and I love sports. That is what I have been doing all my life and what makes me happy” onships celebrated in Turkey, representing Spain in the +40 category. Given her spectacular tennis career, Eva has lived all kinds of experiences both on and off the court… “If I were born again I think I would like to be a tennis player. I would go back and do the same. As a living experience it has been awesome: I have traveled a lot, I speak languages, I know thousands of people… Tennis has given me priceless experiences and I have always done what I liked. The life of a tennis player is known to be tough, since you have to be away from your family, you travel 40 weeks per year, you miss birthdays from your friends and New Year’s Eve celebrations… But it is worth the effort.” When she was 30, she retired from professional tennis, and decided she wished 18 to spend a sabbatical year. She wanted to relax, change environments and find another job, but after so many years doing the same, this change was too rough for her. “It was such a brusque change. I was so bored watching TV all day! My life style was extremely accelerated and suddenly, how boring... I didn’t know what to do! When she realized she really liked sports, she decided to start a new path that involved tennis, this time as a coach. This year, she has been devoted to the Real Club de Polo of Barcelona teaching tennis to the Eva has participated in the ITF Barcelona Seniors Championship 4 times and has won it the last two years. “This tournament is really awesome. It is very well organized; I would give it a 10 out of 10. What I like the most is to be able to play during the evening. Summer nights are beautiful here; all the foreigners, the daily barbecue, and the mojitos… it is just great. If I could I would sign now so that I could be playing this tournament at the age of 85. I love tennis, I love the competition and I love sports. That is what I have been doing all my life and what makes me happy.” young players of the club. “Being a tennis player is useful when you are a coach since you have a lot of knowledge. Now I can share feelings and experiences with the kids because I have been in their situation before. Moreover, during these 10 years that I have been working I have learned a lot, because it is not the same to work at a professional level than at a base level. The base level is very complicated… you really need vocation. Not because you are a good tennis player it means you are going to be a good coach.” 19 10 ITF SENIORS BARCELONA BARCELONA Barcelona, with a population of more than 1.5 million people, is the capital of Catalonia and the second most populated city in Spain. One of the characteristics making it one of the most visited places in the world is its architecture. Roman remains, medieval quarters and the most beautiful examples of Modernism and the Avant-gardes from the 20th century, are just some of the wonders of the city. 20 Capital of Modernism Modernism was an architectural current that was developed primarily in Catalonia during the 19th and 20th centuries. Among the hundreds of architects that were part of it, Antoni Gaudi is considered the great master of Catalan modernism. His works, often inspired by nature, left an indelible mark on our city. Some of the most famous and characteristic modernist monuments of Barcelona are Sagrada Familia, a catholic basilica that has been under construction since 1882, the Parc Güell, a huge, 17-hectare garden, the Casa Batlló, a house with oval shapes and colorful mosaics, and la Pedrera (casa Milà), a work out of the schemes of its time. is one of the medieval delights of this area. Next to the Gothic Quarter we can also find La Rambla, the most famous street in Barcelona. This promenade is more than one kilometer long, extremely lively at any time of the day and night, and always full of tourists and street performers. The Gothic Quarter and La Rambla The best way to delve into the hidden past of the city is to walk through the narrow streets of the Gothic Quarter. During the Roman era, this historic and cultural core was walled and is home of an extensive collection of Gothic buildings today. Surrounded by plazas, streets, and emblematic buildings, the Gothic Cathedral of Barcelona, which was built during the 13th century, Barcelona from high above At 512 meters tall, Tibidabo is the tallest mountain in Sierra de Collserola and the highest point of Barcelona. At the top there is an amusement park and the expiatory Temple of the Sacred Heart. The Montjuic Mountain is home to a large number of sports facilities, including ones from the Olympics. There are also museums and buildings in which different types of cultural activities are organized.At the Avenue of María Cristina there is the Magic Fountain, which offers a spectacular display of music, lights and water acrobatics at night. At the top of the mountain, there is the Montjuic Castle, which was built in 1640 to protect Barcelona from sea attacks. Camp Nou Camp Nou, FC Barcelona’s stadium, is the biggest in Europe, able to hold nearly 100,000 spectators. Inside, there is the Futbol Club Barcelona Museum, which is the most visited museum in Catalonia. 21 10 ITF SENIORS BARCELONA INNOVATIONS, the 10th edition arrives and we continue getting better! Classic Tennis Tour On the weekend, July 18th – 19th, alongside the tournament, the “CLASSIC TENNIS TOUR” will take place at the central courts of the Club. It is an international event that counts with the presence of big tennis legends from the ATP circuit: Ilie Nastase, Mansour Bahrami, Henri Leconte and Sergi Bruguera. The central courts of the Club will turn into only one court and will host a show led by those who have been our idols for many years. The circuit has taken place in emblematic European cities such as: Oporto-Veccio, Saint Tropez, Lyon, Courchevel, and this will be the first time it comes to Barcelona. The tickets will be available at the Restaurant of the ITF Barcelona Seniors Championship, as well as at the Club office, Ticketmaster and Fnac shops. Ticket prices: - RC Polo members and ITF Senior players: 25 € - No members: 40 € - Kids under 12 years old: free access 22 Photocall Would you like to immortalize your way through the tournament? You will find the official Photocall of the tournament at the Village area, where you will be able to get a funny memory of your stay at the ITF Barcelona Seniors Championship. Live ScorING For the first time, informative screens will be installed at the tournament office and the Village area, so that players and visitors can check the order of draw and the matches from each turn, as well as the scores of those matches that have already finished. The URL to the public live score window is: http://www.tennisticker.de/esp/esp2032/ sb.html Or you can download the iOS and Android apps for your devices: iOS APP: http://itunes. apple.com/us/app/tennis-ticker- live-scores/ id539554070?mt=8 ANDROID APP: https://play.google.com/store/ 23 10 ITF SENIORS BARCELONA INTERVIEW JAIME FURIÓ (Spain), reigning champion +80 ITF Jaime Furió’s 82 years of age have not If there is a sport that can be adapted to all ages, it is tennis. Furió started playing tennis driven him away from sports and compewhen he was 13, and in 2013 at 80 years old, tition. Even though his athletic life is no he became the number 1 player in his catlonger the same, Furió still plays tennis regularly at the Tennis Club la Salut and par- egory for 6 months. Even though he didn’t ticipates in some international tournaments. practice consistently and spent periods of time without playing, he has experienced a “I play tennis around 2 or 3 times a week, and I participate in 4 or 5 international tour- very important part of the evolution of this sport first hand. naments a year. I used to travel more when “I started playing tennis when I was around I was younger. At the age of 48, 49, and 50 13, but it wasn’t anything professional. I just I used to play the world tournaments reprewent to the courts with a borrowed racquet. senting Spain, but I haven’t been playing that Since I was 20 until I turned 25 I didn’t play, much lately. Worldwide, there are very good but then at 32, for example, I competed in the players my age. We have a good representasecond national category. It wasn’t until I was tion here in Spain, and if you go to countries 48 that I started playing senior tournaments. such as Italy and France you realize there Since I started playing, tennis has changed a are tournaments with 20 players in the +80 lot… in every sense. Today’s playing power, category and up to 10 or 12 players in the +85 the racquets’ materials and the strings… category.” Tennis is a sport that has modernized quite a lot in the past decades, with no doubt. 24 Always faithful to the ITF Barcelona Seniors Championship, he hasn’t missed a single tournament edition. Therefore, this year he will celebrate his 10th anniversary as a player of the tournament. “I have played every year and if my memory doesn’t fail me I would say I have won almost all of them, if not all of them. I like this tournament a lot because the matches are played in the evening; it would be impossible to play in the morning due to the heat. All the dinners, barbecues, shows… “Tennis is an individual sport and it gets to a point when you get on the court and it looks like a highway” they make this tournament very unique. Being able to share this experience with all the participants and visitors is very nice.” In these categories, the physical condition of the players is a big factor. Furió says he is very fortunate in this sense. “One’s success is related to not having suffered injuries. Many of my colleagues haven’t been lucky and are constantly hurt; their knees, their back... there is always something going wrong. At this age, if you have good mobility you can already say that you have been lucky enough to be able to play. Tennis is an individual sport and it gets to a point when you get on the court and it looks like a highway.” 25 10 ITF SENIORS BARCELONA AN INTERNATIONAL TOURNAMENT Players from around the world participate in the ITF Barcelona Seniors Championship, making it one of the most recognized international tournaments.The high quality facilities, the activities and services offered by the tournament, and a charming city like Barcelona make the tournament very appealing world-wide. People travel from around the world to the courts of the Real Club de Polo of Barcelona in July. In this 10th edition, tennis players came from 36 different countries. Argentina Australia Austria Belarus Belgium Brazil Canada Chile Colombia Czech Republic Egypt Finland France Georgia Germany Great Britain Israel Italy Japan Lithuania Montenegro Morocco Norway Poland Portugal Romania Russia Serbia Spain Sweden Switzerland Tunisia Turkey United States 26 Netherlands New Zealand HOW TO REACH US? Zona Universitària Zona Universitària Camp Nou Hotel Juan Carlos I Real club de polo de barcelona RCPB Av. Dr Marañón, 19-31 08028 Barcelona 934 48 04 00 www.rcpolo.com HOTEL OFICIAL ITF Fairmont Rey Juan Carlos I Av. Diagonal, 661-671 080828 Barcelona 93 364 40 40 www.fairmont.com/barcelona TOURNAMENT INFORMATION Name: ITF Barcelona Seniors Championship Date: from July 13th to July 18th 2015 Place: Real Club de Polo de Barcelona Organization: Real Club de Polo de Barcelona ITF category: Grade 1 (highest category ITF Senior) Surface: Red clay Official ball: Babolat Categories: singles and doubles (feminine and masculine), and mixed doubles Draws per age: +35, +40, +45, +50, +55, +60, +65, +70, +75, +80, +85 Registration:: https://ipin.itftennis.com Official website: www.itfseniorsbarcelona.com E-mail: [email protected] Official Hotel: Fairmont Rey Juan Carlos I Phone number: 93 448 04 00 27 10 ITF 28 SENIORS BARCELONA ITF 2.0! The ITF Barcelona Seniors has presence in the digital era and continues to grow on the social network. This year it is present on YouTube, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram! You can also check all the news, results, and daily activities on the official website of the tournament: www.itfseniorsbarcelona.com Official Facebook of the tournament: ITFSeniorsRCPolo Official Twitter of the tournament: @ITFSeniorsRCPB Official Youtube channel of the tournament: ITF Barcelona Seniors Championship Official Instagram of the tournament: @itfseniorsrcpb And don’t forget to check out the daily set, which you can get everyday at the tournament office! 29 10 ITF SENIORS BARCELONA Last January, Giorgio Paravati Planas left us while playing tennis, a sport that gave him so much satisfaction throughout his life. He faced his last match with his usual attitude, putting into practice his wide knowledge of the sport. Tennis had always been his greatest passion. Giorgio grew up on the courts of the Real Club de Polo of Barcelona where his dad, along with Pere Masip, taught him the values and technique of tennis. Giorgio’s dad was not an arbitrary tennis fan. As a member of the Board of Directors of the Club, he attracted big stars to our courts, such as Illie Nastase, Ivan Lendl, Bjorn Borg, Manolo Orantes, Manuel Santana and Joan Gisbert among others, throughout the organization of prestigious tournaments. Surrounded by his father’s enthusiasm, Giorgio developed a sixth sense for tennis. He could easily tell when someone had talent and knew how to communicate instructions to both kids and adults. The Club was very lucky that Giorgio decided to become extremely involved in the Tennis section. He was a player on their teams (especially standing out in doubles competition), and also a captain of both female and male 30 Giorgio Paravati Planas teams. The kids from our school remember and admire him, as he used to go from court to court cheering them up, correcting them, and helping them to get better, all with a smile on his face. Giorgio was lucky to share his hobby with his wife, Malen. Undoubtedly, this helped him live his passion even more intensely. Through this writing, the Club hopes to remember his important dedication. Our memory of Giorgio will never be forgotten and his legacy will always remain in every shot of many of our tennis players RIP. ORGANIZING COMMITTEE President RCPB Eudaldo Bonet Ferrer Board Members José R. de Gispert Miguel Fresneda Javier Moreno Ana Sitjar Director ITF Barcelona Seniors Championship José R. de Gispert Director RCPB Mª Victoria de Argila Executive Committee Carlos Costa Nathalie Freixas Malen Gual Miquel Mir Secretary ITF Barcelona Seniors Roger Saladich Referee Francisco Ruiz Assistant Oriol Andrés Bruno Ballesté Pablo Bosch Victor Cabezas Logistics Ricard González Adrià Maquilón Office Blanca Forcadell Maria González Ana Llopart Inés Llopart Paula Moreno Guillem Tarragó Juan Torres Núria Vázquez Maitenance Manager Rafa Galván Sound System Eugeni Carrió Informatic Gerard Pascual Restaurant Alejandra Casas Communication and Protocol Ruth Birk Joan Chico Communication ITF Barcelona Seniors Championship Marc Oliva Raquel Rios Gemma Valls Audiovisual Oriol Martín Official Photographer Albert Obiol Nacho Olano Marketing Santiago Cabrera (Soload) Carme Casadevall Aldo Garcini Laura Rodríguez Production David Martínez 31 10 ITF SENIORS BARCELONA 10 32
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