PORTUGAL’S ALL time greatest tennis player, Nuno Marques, has announced he is to take part in this year’s Vale do Lobo Grand Champions, the popular tournament on the Delta ATP Tour of Champions, that sees some of the sport’s greatest former champions compete on centre court at Vale do Lobo’s tennis academy.
Now in its fifth year, the event is scheduled to take place from August 2 to 5 and, as well as attracting hundreds of spectators, including celebrities like Ronan Keating and Cliff Richard, it can also be watched on TV channels CNBC Sports and SIC Notícias.
João Cunha e Silva has been the player representing Portugal in previous years, however a ‘wild card’ was offered this year to 35-year-old former champion, Nuno Marques. During an extremely promising junior career, in which he reached the final of the under 12s European Championship and quarter finals of the under 18s Roland Garros, Wimbledon and US Open tournaments, Nuno Marques found himself in the top 10 of the ITF’s Junior World Ranking.
Marques represented his home country in the Davis Cup and has been four times national champion. During his career, he reached the quarter finals of four ATP tournaments, as well as winning five ‘challenger’ tournaments, among other achievements.
Nuno Marques joins former world number one, Jim Courier, and Dutch ace, Paul Haarhuis, in this year’s line up, with the remaining players still to be announced. Stars that have competed in Vale do Lobo Grand Champions in previous years include John McEnroe, Bjorn Borg and Mats Wilander, to name just a few.
For more information and to book tickets, visit www.grandchampions.org or Tel 289 357 850.
