Real Club de Tennis Barcelona Honored with ITHF's Global Organization of Distinction Award
In recognition of over a century of development, service and excellence in Spanish tennis, the Real Club de Tennis Barcelona 1899 (RCTB) has been honored with the International Tennis Hall of Fame’s Global Organization of Distinction Award. The award was presented by the ITHF at the 2022 Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell, the ATP Tour tournament hosted annually by the Club.
Presented annually, the Global Organization of Distinction Award recognizes a tennis organization, association, federation, or facility that has demonstrated a successful track record of distinguished service and contributions towards the growth of tennis.
"The Real Club de Tennis Barcelona has set a standard of excellence in producing some of the finest talent the sport has seen. As home to multiple Hall of Famers and countless tennis legends, the Club's commitment to developing and honoring world-class players is unparalleled. In addition, the RCTB has a rich history of serving its local and national community through tennis, from grassroots teaching efforts to hosting some of the world's top amateur and professional events."
-Todd Martin, ITHF CEO
The RCTB has counted Hall of Famers Conchita Martínez, Arantxa Sánchez-Vicario and the late Andrés Gimeno amongst its 2,400 members, and it’s players have featured prominently in Spanish Davis Cup and Billie Jean King Cup competition for generations. As one of the world’s premier clay court facilities, the RCTB hosts international recreational and professional events, including the Barcelona Open for the Conde de Godó Trophy, an annual ATP Tour 500-level tournament. RCTB member and all-time singles Grand Slam leader Rafael Nadal is a 12-time champion of the event.
In 2019, the RCTB complimented its long track record of service to its community by launching the Barcelona Tennis Foundation, with the mission of promoting well-being and improving wellness of people from vulnerable populations through tennis.
Nominations for the award were submitted by the global tennis community, with a committee comprised of representatives from the ITHF and International Tennis Federation selecting the RCTB as the fourth honoree.
Previous honorees of the Global Organization of Distinction Award
- Tennis Cambodia (2017)
- The Kooyong Lawn Tennis Club (2018)
- The Chinese Tennis Association (2019)
