El Godó survives the biggest Spanish drought in 35 years: the crisis behind Alcaraz
Brandon Nakashima has a surreal experience. “Nakashima, over here!” the voices of children echo in his ears after his defeat, and he turns to his companion, bewildered, asking, “Are they calling me?”. The atmosphere at the Conde de Godó Trophy helps salvage what could have been a disaster. Despite being sold out for months, the stands of the center court are still lively, with enthusiastic kids roaming the hallways, eager for photos. However, the once vibrant excitement seems to have faded.
A week ago, during the tournament’s presentation, director David Ferrer expressed his “happiness” at the prospect of having Rafa Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz, along with another Top 10 player, Andrey Rublev, in attendance. Now, none of them remain, leaving no Spanish players to lift the spirits of the crowd. This marks the first time since 1989, when Ivan Lendl graced the court, that no local tennis player made it to the quarterfinals – a clear indication of the crisis brewing in the wake of Alcaraz’s meteoric rise.
Without including Nadal, who is currently recovering, there was no one capable of filling the void left by the departure of the number three player in the ATP ranking. Even Alejandro Davidovich, who had been touted as a potential partner for Nadal in the Davis Cup and the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, lost in the third round against Dusan Lajovic, ranked 59th in the world. The rest of the Spanish players also failed to secure a spot in the quarterfinals. Roberto Carballés and the seasoned Roberto Bautista tried their best but fell short against Stefanos Tsitsipas and Cameron Norrie, respectively. Jaume Munar exited in the second round, while the remaining three Spaniards, who received invitations, Dani Rincón, Albert Ramos, and Martín Landaluce, were eliminated in the first round.
The tournament organizers are increasingly concerned as they realize their reliance on Alcaraz, a dependency they didn’t experience with Nadal, who had the support of Ferrer himself, Nicolás Almagro, Tommy Robredo, and Pablo Andújar. Only Landaluce’s potential for growth offers a glimmer of hope, as last week, during the qualifying tournament, only one Spaniard, 30-year-old Oriol Roca, had a chance to enter the main draw.