Golf and fishing are the two biggest sports in Los Cabos, not only in terms of participation by both locals and visitors, but also when it comes of
events. Golf’s traditional country club partner, tennis, is also well-represented, however. There may not be as many tennis courts as there are golf courses, but there are courts located throughout the cape cities, from Pedregal in Cabo San Lucas to resort-based courts in the Tourist Corridor, San Jose del Cabo, and even now on the East Cape. And just as there are high profile golf and fishing events each year, there’s also an ATP sponsored tennis tournament held annually in Los Cabos.
For context, there are only two professional tennis tournaments played each year in Mexico. The first is the Mexican Open, a staple of the ATP (Association of Tennis Professionals) Tour since 1993, and a rite of spring in Acapulco since 2001. The second is the Los Cabos Open, an ATP 250 series men’s singles and doubles competition that premiered in 2016 at a newly constructed tennis complex at the Delmar International School, just outside Cabo San Lucas.
By dint of its place on the schedule in late February, the Mexican Open was able to take place in its entirety last year before the coronavirus pandemic and quarantine conditions took effect across the globe. The event even featured a stirring victory in the singles final by legendary Spanish champion Rafael Nadal. The Los Cabos Open was not so lucky. Although quarantine conditions had lifted in Los Cabos by June 2020, the tournament wasn’t able to take place by July, and had to be canceled until 2021. But this year is another story, and as vaccines roll out and a sense of normalcy gradually returns, so too does the only high-profile tennis tournament in Los Cabos.
The Los Cabos Open returns for its 5th tournament July 19 – 24, bringing back some of the world’s best players to compete for over $850,000 in prize money, and offering plenty of off-the-court festivities, from high-end food and drink concessions to invitation-only special events. The event features 28 players competing in men’s singles, 16 duos in the doubles draw. No players have been announced as yet, but the event regularly draws many men ranked in the top 50 in the world to compete on the local hard courts.
Croatian Ivo Karlovic won the inaugural event in 2016 over Spaniard Feliciano Lopez, and other past champions have included hard-serving American Sam Querrey, Italian Fabio Fognini, and Diego Schwartzman from Argentina. It’s an impressive group. Lopez and Fognini both boast grand slam doubles titles, and Schwartzman and Fognini are currently ranked among the top 20 players in the world. Karlovic, meanwhile, for several years held the record for the fastest-ever serve, and Querrey still holds the record for the most consecutive service aces in ATP tournament play with 10.
The primary forces behind the first four Los Cabos Open tournaments were banking and financial services giant Mifel, and Cinemex, the largest movie theater chain in Mexico. Both return as primary sponsors in 2021, and will help to grow the impressive facilities that continue to spring up around the event.
The tournament host is again Delmar International School, a private bilingual educational institution, where six separate courts – including a 3,500 seat stadium and a 1,000 seat grandstand – have been specially built, as was an enormous exhibit area and food concession center featuring spectacular Land’s End views. Attendees will not only enjoy brilliant tennis, but be able to enjoy first-class food and drinks as well.
Tickets for this year’s event are available by the day or week at www.abiertoloscabos.com, or at select locations in Los Cabos and Mexico City. For stylish accommodations during tournament week, meanwhile, we invite you to peruse the private villa and vacation rental options at www.loscabosvillas.com.
For more information about events, activities and villa rentals in Los Cabos, call us TOLL FREE at 1-888-655-4548, visit www.LosCabosVillas.com, or email us at Info@LosCabosVillas.com.
Photo credit: Abierto Los Cabos
Upcoming Events Calendar
April
Semana Santa – Mar. 28 – Apr. 3
Art Walk in San Jose del Cabo – Apr. 1, 8, 15, 22
Viva La Plaza in Cabo San Lucas – Apr. 2, 9, 16, 23
Todos Santos Film Festival – Apr. 15 – 18
May
Art Walk in San Jose del Cabo – May 6, 13, 20, 27
Viva La Plaza in Cabo San Lucas – May 7, 14, 21, 28
El Dia de la Madre – May 10
June
Art Walk in San Jose del Cabo – Jun. 3, 10, 17, 24
Los Cabos Open of Surf – Jun. 3 – 7
Viva La Plaza in Cabo San Lucas – Jun. 4, 11, 18, 25
Pelagic Triple Crown of Fishing Tournament– Jun. 10 – 12
July
East Cape Dorado Shootout Fishing Tournament – Jul. 17
Los Cabos Open of Tennis – Jul. 19 – 24
Ladies Only Fishing Tournament at Palmas de Cortez – Jul. 22 – 26
August
Bisbee’s East Cape Offshore – Aug. 3 – 7
Wahoo Gold Cup Jackpot Fishing Tournament – Aug. 21
September
Mexico Independence Day – Sep. 16
October
Los Cabos Billfish Tournament – Oct. 10 – 14
Bisbee’s Los Cabos Offshore Fishing Tournament – Oct. 14 – 17
Bisbee’s Black and Blue Fishing Tournament – Oct. 19 – 23
November
Baja Ha-Ha Cruisers Rally – Nov. 1 – 13
Day of the Dead – Nov. 1, 2
WON Tuna Jackpot – Nov. 3 – 6
Art Walk in San Jose del Cabo – Nov. 4, 11, 18, 25
Viva La Plaza in Cabo San Lucas – Nov. 5, 12, 19, 26
SCORE Baja 1000 – Nov. 15 – 20
Revolution Day – Nov. 20
December
Art Walk in San Jose del Cabo – Dec. 2, 9, 16, 23, 30
Viva La Plaza in Cabo San Lucas – Dec. 3, 10, 17, 24, 31
El Dia de la Virgen de Guadalupe – Dec. 12
Las Posadas – Dec. 16 – 24
Nochebuena (Christmas Eve) – Dec. 24
Navidad (Christmas) – Dec. 25
Nochevieja (New Year’s Eve) – Dec. 31
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