Morocco’s eight-year wait for an ATP Tour match winner ended twice on the same day in Marrakech, where local wild cards Karim Bennani and Taha Baadi both advanced at the clay-court ATP 250 Grand Prix Hassan II.
Historic Wins for Moroccan Tennis
Bennani, 18, ranked No. 731, defeated Quentin Halys 6-4, 6-7(5), 6-2 in his first tour-level appearance outside the Davis Cup. With the result, he became the youngest Moroccan man to win a tour-level match, marking a significant milestone for Moroccan tennis.
Earlier on Monday, Baadi, 24, opened the main-draw program with a 6-2, 3-6, 6-1 victory over Aleksandar Vukic, becoming the first Moroccan to post an ATP Tour win since 2018. This victory moved him up 109 places to No. 478 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings, showcasing the rising talent within the country.
Both players move into the second round, bringing excitement to local tennis fans. Baadi is set to face third seed Corentin Moutet in their first meeting, while Bennani will play eighth seed Yannick Hanfmann. Hanfmann progressed with a 7-6(6), 6-4 win over Jesper de Jong in one hour and 41 minutes, winning 91 percent of his first-serve points for his eighth tour-level victory of the season.
Home interest continues on Tuesday, when 19-year-old Reda Bennani, the third Moroccan wild card in the draw, is scheduled to meet Mattia Bellucci. The participation of these young athletes not only highlights their individual talents but also signifies a promising future for tennis in Morocco.