What Is 2010 Grand Prix Hassan II - Doubles

Overview

The 2010 Grand Prix Hassan II – Doubles was a professional men's tennis doubles tournament held as part of the ATP World Tour 250 series. It took place in Casablanca, Morocco, from April 12 to April 18, 2010, at the Complexe Al Amal. Played on outdoor red clay courts, the event featured an eight-team draw competing for ranking points and prize money.

As the 26th edition of the Grand Prix Hassan II, the tournament served as a key early-season clay-court event leading into the European clay swing. The doubles competition culminated in a decisive final that highlighted the rising talent from South America. The tournament was notable for being one of the few ATP events hosted in Africa.

• Champions: Colombian pair Juan Sebastián Cabal and Robert Farah claimed their first ATP title together by winning the 2010 doubles final.
• Final score: Cabal and Farah defeated Daniele Bracciali and Potito Starace 6–3, 6–1 in straight sets on April 18, 2010.
• Surface: The tournament was played on outdoor red clay, a surface known for longer rallies and strategic play.
• Location: The event was held in Casablanca, Morocco, making it the only ATP Tour event on the African continent.
• Draw size: The doubles draw consisted of 16 teams, with 8 seeded pairs competing in a single-elimination format.

How It Works

The ATP doubles format used at the 2010 Grand Prix Hassan II followed standard professional rules, including best-of-three sets with a match tiebreak in place of a third set in some cases. However, in this edition, the final was played in full best-of-three sets.

• Match Format: All doubles matches were played as best-of-three sets, with a 10-point match tiebreak replacing the third set in earlier rounds.
• Seeding: Eight pairs were seeded based on ATP rankings, ensuring top teams avoided early matchups.
• Court Surface: Red clay slowed ball speed and increased bounce, favoring baseline consistency and endurance.
• Scoring System: Standard tennis scoring was used, with games, sets, and advantage rules applied during close points.
• Team Composition: Players from different nations could pair up, but in this case, both finalists were same-nation teams.
• Tournament Level: As an ATP 250 event, the tournament awarded 250 ranking points to the winning doubles team.

Comparison at a Glance

Here’s how the 2010 Grand Prix Hassan II – Doubles compared to other ATP 250 events of the same year:

While the Grand Prix Hassan II had a lower prize purse than other ATP 250s, it remained significant for its unique geographic position and competitive clay-court preparation. The 2010 edition helped elevate the profile of Latin American doubles teams on the international stage.

Why It Matters

The 2010 Grand Prix Hassan II – Doubles was a milestone event for Colombian tennis and the ATP Tour’s global reach. Its outcome had lasting implications for player development and regional representation in professional tennis.

• Historic win: Cabal and Farah’s victory marked the first ATP title for Colombia in doubles since the 1990s.
• Regional impact: The win inspired a new generation of South American players to pursue doubles specialization.
• Tournament prestige: Hosting an ATP event in Africa underscores the ITF’s efforts to globalize professional tennis.
• Career momentum: The title boosted Cabal and Farah’s rankings, helping them qualify for Grand Slam events.
• Clay-court development: The event provided crucial preparation for the French Open, the year’s second Grand Slam.
• Team chemistry: Cabal and Farah went on to become one of the most successful South American doubles teams in history.

The 2010 Grand Prix Hassan II remains a landmark moment in ATP doubles history, both for its competitive outcome and symbolic value in expanding tennis beyond traditional strongholds.