Miracle in Marrakech! The country has not had a win on the ATP circuit for 8 years, and now two successes have come in the same day
Article by David Istrate – Published Monday, March 30, 2026 9:40 p.m. / Updated Monday, March 30, 2026 9:51 p.m.
Monday, March 30, marked a historic moment in Moroccan tennis: after 8 years in which no tennis player from the African country had achieved a victory on the ATP circuit, two athletes from Morocco prevailed against Top 100 opponents within a few hours in the first round of the tournament in Marrakech.
April 11, 2018 it was the day of the last victory achieved by a Moroccan tennis player in the ATP circuit. In the opening round of the tournament in Marrakech, Lamine Ouahab managed to defeat German Philipp Kohlschreiber 2-6, 6-0, 7-6 (3), in one hour and 38 minutes.
Then, in the round of 16, Ouahab lost to Georgian Nikoloz Balisahvili, 7-6 (5), 5-7, 3-6, at the end of a two hour and 33 minute “thriller”. 8 years followed in which Moroccan tennis players did not win any ATP tournaments, only ITF tournaments and Davis Cup matches.
Taha Baadi and Karim Bennani, victories in the inaugural round in Marrakech
The “curse” was broken today, March 30, in the same phase of the ATP tour in Marrakech. Taha Baadi (24 years old, 587 ATP) entered the court and made a great match against Australian Aleksandar Vukic (29, 84 ATP), winning 6-2, 3-6, 6-1 after one hour and 49 minutes.
In the round of 16, Baadi will meet Corentin Moutet (26 years old, 32 ATP), the number 3 favorite for the title. The main favorite is the Italian Luciano Darderi (24 years old, 19 ATP), and the number 2 seed is the Dutchman Tallon Griekspoor (29 years old, 30 ATP).
Baadi makes it a party 🎉
The Moroccan defeats Vukic 6-2 3-6 6-1 for a first ATP win – and first for his country in 8 years!#GrandPrixHassanII pic.twitter.com/1jkXmgV01X
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) March 30, 2026
Baadi's victory was followed by an exceptional result achieved by Karim Bennani (18 years old, 731 ATP). He defeated the French Quentin Halys (29 years old, 90 ATP), score 6-4, 6-7 (5), 6-2, after two hours and 19 minutes.
In the “eighties”, Bennani will duel with either Jesper De Jong (25 years old, 99 ATP) or Yannick Hanfmann (34 years old, 61 ATP).
Incredible scenes in Marrakech.
18 year old world #731 Karim Bennani falls flat on his back on the clay as he beats world #90 Quentin Halys.
This is his 1st ever ATP match win. 🥹
Beautiful moment that he'll never forget.
🇲🇦❤️
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) March 30, 2026
