Sousa Meets President Of Portugal In Estoril

Joao Sousa, the top player from Portugal at World No. 34, had the honour of meeting his country’s president on Tuesday at the Millennium Estoril Open.

President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa played an influential role in bringing the ATP World Tour to Portugal in 1990. He was gifted with a tennis racquet from Sousa before making his way to Estado Millennium to watch Portugal’s Gastao Elias, who cracked the Top 100 in the Emirates ATP Rankings on Monday, face Paul-Henri Mathieu (the Frenchman won 6-3, 6-4).

“I think it’s great for the tournament,” Mathieu said after his win. “It’s great for tennis. It’s an honour to play in front of him.”

Sousa, the fourth seed this week, will open his campaign against Nicolas Almagro in the second round.