The Macena Open is held at Praia da Pajuçara until Sunday (31)
With the support of the Municipality of Maceió, through the Municipal Sports Secretariat (Semesp), the capital of Alagoas hosts, this week, the 4th edition of the Macena Open Beach Tennis. Recognized as one of the main beach tennis tournaments in the world, the event will be held at Praia da Pajuçara from Tuesday (26) and will continue until Sunday (31).
The competition brings together more than 1,600 athletes and is expected to generate R$ 20 million in the local economy, according to organization estimates. The structure installed on site attracts, on average, 10,000 visitors per day, with the expectation of reaching an audience of 40,000 people when it closes.
The Secretary of Sports, Francisco Carlos do Nascimento, known as Chicão, highlighted the relevance of the event for sports tourism in the city.
“Mayor JHC has committed to establishing alliances that strengthen the holding of sporting events in Maceió, a city blessed by its natural beauty. The Macena Open is an example of this, generating employment, promoting local commerce and driving demand for tourist services. It is an honor to support this contest again,” said Chicão.
André Macena, creator of the tournament, recalled the origins of the event, started in 2021, in the middle of the pandemic, and thanked the municipal management for its support.
“Despite the smaller proportions of the time, the Macena Open attracted almost a thousand athletes due to the excellent structure and natural beauty of Maceió. Today, the event has gained notoriety, delighting tourists and athletes, who bring their families to explore the city. It is a great joy to be able to hold this competition here once again,” Macena celebrated.
International competition and structure.
The Macena Open is an international stage with 470 points valid for the world ranking of the International Tennis Federation (IFT) and offers a prize pool of 35 thousand dollars (approximately R$ 192 thousand). A megastructure with 25 fields was set up to serve athletes, visitors and the organizing team.
Professional athletes from 10 countries compete on the central court, including Brazil, France, Italy, Germany and Spain, while on the other courts competitions are held between amateurs from different regions of Brazil, divided into categories such as Men’s Doubles and Women’s Doubles. , Mixed Doubles, veterans and Youth.
The event, which is endorsed by the International Tennis Federation, the Brazilian Tennis Confederation and the Alagoas Tennis Federation, is broadcast on the PlayBT platform. The quarterfinals also began to be broadcast this Friday (29th) on ESPN4 and Disney, also publicizing the paradisiacal environment of Maceió and the movement of athletes and tourists on the beach.
