April’s arrival always brings a buzz to the tennis world. Players scatter across three continents, their sneakers scuffing up the clay courts.
Among these, the Estoril Open stands out. It’s a clay-court spectacle running from April 1st to 7th, marking the beginning of Europe’s clay swing.
This year, Cascais, Portugal, is the battleground. The ATP Tour‘s hardest workers are assembling, with seven of the Top 8 seeds nestled comfortably within the world’s Top 50.
Last year, Casper Ruud clinched his first title here, dominating the ATP 250s. He’s back, but this time as the second seed, ready to defend his title with a vengeance.
The top seed, however, is Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz. He’s aiming to bounce back from last year’s second-round disappointment. Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, Lorenzo Musetti, Arthur Fils, and last year’s runner-up, Miomir Kecmanovic, are also in the mix.
Then there’s the German duo, Dominik Koepfer and Daniel Altmaier, adding to the competition. Nuno Borges, Portugal’s rising star, is set to be the crowd’s darling.
With Joao Sousa bowing out in Estoril, Borges is tipped to be Portugal’s next big thing. Meanwhile, Dominic Thiem and Cristian Garin are eyeing a comeback on their favorite surface.
Prize money’s been announced, folks. This year, the pot’s a tad lighter at €579,320, just shy of last year’s total.
But, there’s a silver lining. Every round sees a bump in earnings compared to last year. The champ pockets €88,125, a neat increase from Ruud’s haul.
Not just the cash, the champion bags 250 points too. The runner-up? Not left empty-handed, with a trophy, €51,400, and 165 points to their name.
Even the first-rounders get a slice of the pie, earning €6,215. Though, no points for them. Second-rounders fare better, with €10,165 and 25 points.
And there you have it, the 2024 Estoril Open’s financial breakdown. A mix of triumphs, trials, and a whole lot of clay.
Takeaways
- ‣ The Estoril Open, a clay-court tournament held in Cascais, Portugal, features top ATP Tour players, with seven of the Top 8 seeds ranked in the world’s Top 50.
- ‣ Casper Ruud, last year’s champion, returns to defend his title at the Estoril Open, with top seed being Hubert Hurkacz aiming for a better performance after last year’s second-round exit.
- ‣ The 2024 Estoril Open has a total prize purse of €579,320, with the champion earning €88,125 and 250 points, indicating an increase in prize money across all rounds compared to the previous year.