Vale Do Lobo Grand Champions CGD
- City:
- Algarve, Portugal
- Dates:
- August 09-12, 2011
- Venue:
- Vale Do Lobo Tennis Academy
- Director:
- Pedro Aguiar Frazao
- Surface:
- Hard (Outdoor)
- Website:
- www.grandchampions.org
- 2009 Photo Gallery
- 2009 Results
- 2010 Results
- tickets
Among players, the Vale Do Lobo Grand Champions CGD is quite possibly the most popular location on the ATP Champions Tour. Set in the exclusive Vale do Lobo holiday resort, life is as fast or slow as they want it to be, with gorgeous golf courses galore, stunning beaches and fine dining on offer. The Algarve is the Southernmost region of mainland Portugal, and in the month of August when the Vale do Lobo Grand Champions takes place, the population can be more than double what it is in the Winter months, making for packed crowds and a festival atmosphere.
In eight years, the event has not seen a drop of rain, and while they wait for play to get underway in the cooler evenings, the players relax by the hotel pool while spectators enjoy their time at the beach. In fact, some of the players have enjoyed the area so much that they have invested in property there.
Particularly popular with British, German and Austrian holiday-makers, fans flock to see the Grand Slam stars they remember from yesteryear. When Pat Cash played, he ran out of his hoard of black-and-white chequered headbands in seconds, such was the demand from fans. Equally popular with the British holidaymakers in 2009 was Greg Rusedski’s maiden ATP Champions Tour tournament victory. The Briton beat Stefan Edberg in a thrilling final.
Run by a polite, ultra-efficient tournament staff, the Vale do Lobo Grand Champions CGD is a pleasure to visit, and you will want to go back again and again.
