Conde de Godó Trophy: Seven decades of passion for tennis

They in dark suits (almost all of them with perfectly tied ties and well-polished loafers and, curiously, also some, quite a few, with sneakers). They, all, gala. And all excited. The exclusive guests at the gala dinner for the 70th anniversary of the Conde de Godó trophy can be sure that they have experienced a historic moment. A unique moment in the history of the tournament, in the history of tennis, in the history of RCT Barcelona and in the history of the city.

“We are celebrating the first 70 years of the tournament founded by my father Carlos Godó and which, since that distant 1953, has become a benchmark in world tennis and the splendid reality that it is today as well as the magnificent future that awaits it,” he recalled. Javier Godó, Count of Godó and editor of La Vanguardia, as a welcome in the ephemeral space that is Hospitality dressed, like everyone else, for the great occasion, with that cup that every self-respecting tennis player has dreamed of, shinier than ever .

Almost without tennis on the court (only the last bars of a doubles were mixed with the clicking of heels) and assuming the role of stars under the spotlights (they are: the bar to be in the procession of this unique event, could not be higher) the few and well-chosen guests (300 influential personalities from the most diverse fields among which 18 finalists and tournament champions from different generations stood out for being doubly excited) know what Javier Godó was talking about. “The key to success is everyone’s effort, commitment and cooperation for seven decades,” he explained, recalling that year in which his father, saving the RCTB at a more than difficult time, not only decided as president of the entity to transfer the headquarters to Pedralbes (“it was a wasteland, a place that seemed unthinkable, Don Carlos was a visionary!” Arilla ratified in a low voice, with Orantes as a witness while the editor of La Vanguardia developed his speech) but also promoted this tournament through which all the greats have passed (and will pass). “We are committed to maintaining and promoting the idea that that group of tennis fans had 70 years ago,” added the editor of La Vanguardia, who recalled that in his drive to make Barcelona a city of world interest, his father Carlos Godó also invented “The Godó Sailing Trophy, which we are also celebrating this year, is the 50th anniversary”. For this reason, among the guests on this enormously special day was his great friend Grand Dalton and one of the main people responsible for the Copa del América finally landing in Barcelona. Microphone in hand, Dalton recalled that “as far as I know, there is no other competition in the world with this family imprint that has turned seventy years old! And what I am sure of is that there is only one sailing trophies in the hands of a family and, moreover, 50 years old: the Godó trophy. This is incredible”.

This is also the point that Jordi Cambra wanted to underline, the president who has the honor of celebrating this 70th anniversary of the tournament, believes that “this success is the result of an unprecedented partnership between a club and a family that have known how to be faithful to that determined and brilliant idea and the ability to always keep the initial spirit alive”. Cambra, who next year will also preside over the 125th anniversary of the RCTB, knows that all of Barcelona appreciates “that emotion that makes the club and this 500 unique”.

The current tournament director, David Ferrer, also spoke about that, summing it up very well. “Thanks to the Godó family and the RCTB, many tennis players have made their dream come true and many of us, all of us who love tennis, have lived this tournament with passion since we were children.” Pure emotion. Many personalities (it has already been said, the whole of Barcelona) and so much to remember and to say that the day, dotted with musical (opera, of course, and signed by the Liceu) and gastronomic surprises (the commemorative cake was signed by another champion, the of the pastry world that is Lluc Crusellas), was made short.