Coric, Bolelli, Mathieu Visit Menara Gardens

Next Generation star Borna Coric, former Grand Prix Hassan II champion Paul-Henri Mathieu, Italian Simone Bolelli and local wild card Reda El Amrani took some time off on Sunday to enjoy Marrakech, visiting the famous Menara Gardens.

The players were picked up from their hotel and driven to Menara in a horse-drawn carriage. Menara Gardens is a former weekend residence of the royal family. It includes a large swimming pool and offers panoramic views of the Atlas Mountains.

“It’s nice to see something of the city and the landscape,” said Bolelli. “Marrakech is a beautiful city and I’m looking forward to playing here.”

Mathieu, who won the tournament in 2007 when it took place in Casablanca, is happy to be back in Morocco. “I really had fun today. [Tournament Director] Hicham [Arazi] arranged a really nice tour for us and it was nice to get to see a bit more of the city.”

View Marrakech Draw

The Grand Prix Hassan II, inaugurated in 1986, is entirely funded by Morocco’s King Mohammed VI. Marrakech, newly relocated from Casablanca in 2016, is the only ATP World Tour stop on the African continent. Two Moroccans have won the title in their home country: Hicham Arazi in 1997 and Younes El Aynaoui in 2002.

Guillermo Garcia-Lopez, Joao Sousa and Coric are the top three seeds at the 2016 edition of this ATP World Tour 250 clay-court tournament.