I’m sorry it had taken me this long to start writing this! It has already been 2 weeks since I got back and I had just been procrastinating. >< It’s really difficult to write since a lot had happened in the 11 days we spent in Valencia and I’m fairly certain I had forgotten a lot of the details. Ah well, my reports have always been rather crappy anyway. (Maybe someone here will remember the ones I wrote from 2004/5 which were super fangirl-y to put it lightly!!!)

Maybe it’ll be easier if I start by writing about the tournament itself. I have never been to Valencia (or Spain, or Europe) before so I can only compare it with other tournaments in Australia/New Zealand. Since it’s an ATP tournament (by that I mean – mens only) it’s fairly small which is good for fans (or just people like me) who really don’t like walking around too much. There is one main court (L’Àgora) and Pista 1 – which (I heard) was temporarily constructed just for the tournament. The Agora is a part of the City of Arts and Sciences – one of Valencia’s main tourist attractions and if anyone had seen the pictures, it’s worth visiting whether you are a tennis fan or not.

Most of the matches are played in the Agora, and outside there’s a “Fun Park” where various sponsors have stands to promote their products. There’re also bars which I think sold snacks – for anything substantial the nearby Museu de les Ciències Príncipe Felipe (let’s call it the Science Museum) has a restaurant and cafe. Interestingly, they also made room for three practice courts inside the Science Museum, and the rooftop area was where the photoshoots / press stuff were held.

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View of the Agora

View of the Agora

Inside the Agora

Inside Pista 1

On top of the Science Museum

Inside the practice courts

I don’t know if they do this every year… but in the Corporate / VIP area they had some of JC’s trophies on display, including his World Number 1, Roland Garros and Davis Cup trophies. I took two photos of the 2001 Dubai one because…hrm, it says doubles??? LOL.

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ATP World Number One

Roland Garros 2003

Roland Garros 2002

Davis Cup

Davis Cup 2004

Davis Cup 2009

US Open 2003

Monte Carlo 2002

Roma 2001

Madrid 2003

Barcelona 2001

Dubai 2001

Dubai 2001... doubles?

Umag 2010

ATP Tour

from 1994?

Mens Health

I promise the next post will actually include JCF!!!