Conde De Godo Trophy: A short summary of its history

April 23, 2008 - at Tennis

It was in 1953 when Carlos Godo Valls, the ‘Conde De Godo’ gave the trophy for a new international championship, in the opening of the new Real Club de Tenis Barcelona-1899 site in Pedralbes. The new international championships followed the tradition of several past tournaments since 1903. The first edition was played from July 3rd to 7th, and American Vic Seixas was the first winner.  In 1954 after the international success of first edition, the ‘Conde De Godo’ Trophy changes its dates to join the European clay-court season. In 1960 and due to it’s increasing success, the building of a new centre court is necessary, which can hold 3,000 spectators. The opening ceremony coincides with first ever-Spanish victory, when Andres Gimeno -from RCT Barcelona-1899- achieves the title with a victory over Giuseppe Merlo of Italy and in 1961 Australian Roy Emerson captures the first of three singles titles winning the final over rising young Spanish star Manolo Santana. In 1967 the centre court is known as the “talisman court” thanks to the Spanish Davis Cup team success, and it enlarges its capacity up to 8,500 spectators. In 1968 the ‘Conde De Godo’ trophy becomes the International Championships of Spain, after the agreement with the Spanish Tennis Federation. 11 Spanish players have win at least once the trophy being Manolo Santana and Rafael Nadal the most relevant winners.Roy Emerson, Ilie Nastase, Bjorn Borg, Ivan Lend and Mats Wilander are also important international players that also win this tournament.