In Spain, tennis officials are "continuing to demand a patronage law for the sport, which is facing a sponsorship crisis," according to José Félix Díaz of EL CONFIDENCIAL. On Monday, the Real Club de Tenis Barcelona opened the final round of the Barcelona Open. There will also "be a meeting of all three ATP tournaments celebrated in Spain." Madrid Open CEO Gerard Tsobanian, Valencia Open 500 Exec Dir David Serrahima, RCT Barcelona President Albert Agustí and Spanish Tennis Federation (RFET) President José Luis Escañuela "are all expected to attend." Within tennis, "there is a deep discomfort regarding the lack of patronage regulations, but especially over the lack of fiscal incentives." Spanish tennis officials believe that Spain's Superior Sports Council's (CSD) "singular measures promoted in relation to the Spanish Football League's (LFP) World Challenge project create discrimination against tennis." Spain's Education, Culture & Sports Minister José Ignacio Wert "previously met with federations that explained their interest in a regulation that would grant sports the instruments to survive the lack of public resources." This "makes it surprising" that CSD President Miguel Cardenal has only "resorted to this path for the LFP World Challenge," which was "done in record time." A "year ago, the CSD declined to recognize the organization of RFET events." The "tennis world wants to evaluate and plan programs" similar to the LFP World Challenge. The "top Spanish tennis tournaments and the RFET itself want to jointly plan on a path to follow, starting now." The "goal is something that could reach all athletic disciplines affected by Spain's economic crisis." Cardenal was "also invited to this meeting" in Barcelona (EL CONFIDENCIAL, 4/21).
