A. M. 
El Salvador consolidated its position as the epicenter of top-level international events with the celebration of the long-awaited tennis tournament El Salvador Open 2024: Legends on the court. This sporting event, which took place on Saturday and Sunday, highlighted the transformation of the country into an attractive destination for sports, culture and tourism, attracting global attention to salvadoran territory.
The inauguration of the tournament on saturday marked the beginning of a competition full of emotions, in which the Salvadoran athlete Marcelo Arévalo was one of the main figures. Arévalo, recognized worldwide, shared the court with great tennis players with whom he has previously competed in Grand Slam tournaments. “I am very happy to return to my country, to connect with my roots and my people”, said the salvadoran tennis player excitedly during his participation.
In the first match of the opening day, salvadoran athletes Susana Souhrada and César Cruz, part of INDES’ Esfuerzo y Gloria Program, won by a score of 4-1 and 5-3 in a mixed doubles match against Valentina Cruz and Juan Carlos Fuentes. This victory kicked off a tournament that celebrated not only sporting talent, but also the renovation of safe and modern spaces for large-scale events.
Saturday’s highlight was the clash between Marcelo Arevalo and Mate Pavic (Croatia) against Miguel Reyes-Varela (Mexico) and Jean-Julien Rojer (Netherlands). In an exciting match, Arevalo and Pavic took the victory with 7-6(5) and 6-2, demonstrating the level of competitiveness of the tournament and delighting the salvadoran public present.
Sunday culminated with an atmosphere full of enthusiasm and national pride. During the day, Marcelo Arévalo received the Golden Racket from the Federación Salvadoreña de Tenis, a recognition for his outstanding sports career. This award is in addition to the Esfuerzo y Gloria award that accredited him as the best male athlete of the year. Arévalo is currently ranked number one in the ATP world ranking in doubles, consolidating his status as an emblematic figure of salvadoran sport.
In sunday’s matches, César Cruz achieved an outstanding 2-0 victory over compatriot Juan Carlos Fuentes, demonstrating the emerging talent that El Salvador continues to produce in tennis. The day closed with a stellar showdown between Marcelo Arevalo and Jean-Julien Rojer against Miguel Angel Reyes (Mexico) and Mate Pavic. In an exciting outcome, the Arévalo-Rojer duo won 2-1, closing the tournament on a high note.
El Salvador Open 2024 stood out not only for the competitive level, but also for the advances in infrastructure and security that have allowed the country to host events of this magnitude. Marcelo Arévalo recognized the importance of government support and expressed his gratitude for the management headed by Yamil Bukele and INDES: “We now have first-world scenarios in El Salvador”.
This tournament not only celebrated Salvadoran sporting talent, but also reflected the collective effort to position the country as an attractive and safe destination. Both locals and foreigners enjoyed an atmosphere of healthy coexistence, highlighting the positive impact of the transformation strategies promoted in the territory.
The event was organized by Two Show Sports, which guaranteed an unforgettable experience for attendees and ratified El Salvador’s commitment to the development of sports as an engine of progress and national pride. El Salvador Open 2024: Legends on the court will remain in the memory as a milestone for the country and its international projection.
