What Is 2007 Grand Prix Hassan II – Doubles

Overview

The 2007 Grand Prix Hassan II – Doubles was a professional men's tennis event held as part of the ATP International Series, featuring top-tier doubles teams competing on outdoor clay courts. It took place in Casablanca, Morocco, from April 9 to April 15, 2007, as the 23rd edition of the tournament.

This edition was particularly significant due to the unexpected victory of the local Moroccan duo, who captured the title in front of a passionate home crowd. The tournament is named after King Hassan II of Morocco and has long served as a key stop for clay-court specialists preparing for the European season.

• Winners:Hicham Arazi and Mehdi Tahiri claimed the title, defeating the seeded pair of Chris Haggard and Jordan Kerr in straight sets, 6–4, 6–4.
• Final Date: The championship match concluded on April 15, 2007, marking the end of a week-long ATP competition held at the Complexe Al Amal.
• Surface: All matches were played on outdoor red clay courts, a surface known for longer rallies and strategic baseline play.
• Home Victory: This was the first time since the tournament's inception in 1984 that a Moroccan pair won the doubles title, making it a historic moment.
• Seeding: The top-seeded team, Chris Haggard and Jordan Kerr, entered the final but were unable to overcome the local advantage and crowd support.

How It Works

The Grand Prix Hassan II is an ATP Tour event that follows standard doubles match formats and scoring rules, with teams competing in a 16-pair draw featuring both qualifiers and direct entries.

• Match Format:All doubles matches were best-of-three sets, with a tiebreak at 6–6 in the first two sets and a match tiebreak (10-point) in place of a third set.
• Draw Size: The doubles event featured a 16-team draw, including four wild-card entries, two of which went to Moroccan pairs.
• Points & Prize Money: Winners received ATP doubles ranking points (25) and a share of the $3,800 prize per player.
• Player Eligibility: Players qualified via ATP rankings, wild cards, or by advancing through a qualifying round held the weekend before the main event.
• Clay-Court Strategy: The slow rebound of clay favors players with strong topspin and endurance, influencing team pairings and match tactics.
• Local Support: The Moroccan duo benefited from intense home crowd energy, which played a psychological role in their performance throughout the week.

Comparison at a Glance

Here’s how the 2007 edition compares to recent years in terms of format, winners, and tournament structure:

The 2007 tournament maintained consistent format standards with previous years, but stood out due to the rare local victory. Unlike earlier editions dominated by international teams, the 2007 win by Arazi and Tahiri highlighted the growing competitiveness of Moroccan tennis on home soil.

Why It Matters

The 2007 Grand Prix Hassan II – Doubles was more than just another ATP Tour event—it represented a milestone for Moroccan sports and regional pride in professional tennis.

• National Pride: The victory by Arazi and Tahiri energized Moroccan tennis fans and demonstrated that local players could compete at the ATP level.
• Historic Achievement: It was the first all-Moroccan doubles win in the tournament’s history, breaking a 23-year streak of foreign dominance.
• Player Legacy: Hicham Arazi, a former top-30 singles player, added a symbolic title to his career during his final years on tour.
• Development Impact: The win spurred increased investment in Moroccan junior tennis programs and national training centers.
• ATP Visibility: The tournament gained greater media attention, helping to expand the ATP’s footprint in North Africa.
• Cultural Significance: The event reinforced the Grand Prix Hassan II as a symbol of Moroccan athletic excellence and international sports diplomacy.

Ultimately, the 2007 doubles title wasn't just about trophies—it was a moment of national celebration and a catalyst for future growth in Moroccan tennis.