It is a WTA 250-level competition and usually takes place in late spring ahead of the Roland Garros. The competition takes place at the Club des Cheminots sports complex near central Rabat. Sometimes, the competition is simply called the Morocco Open.
Other names include the Rabat Grand Prix or the Grand Prix de SAR La Princesse Lalla Meryem. The sponsorship name refers to Morocco’s royalty of Princess Lalla Meryem. She is the sister of Mohammed VI, King of Morocco.
Although the Morocco Open takes place in Rabat now, it has moved frequently between venues. Between 2001 and 2004, the event took place in Casablanca before it shifted to Rabat. However, the competition didn’t last long in Rabat initially, only staying in the city for two years.
Then, after a 12-year absence between 2007 and 2015, the WTA tournament returned to Rabat following spells in Fez and Marrakech. Since launching in 2001, the Morrocco Open has grown in stature. It began as a WTA tier 5 competition and was promoted to tier 4 in 2005. But since 2009, the tournament has been a WTA 250 event.
Today, the Morocco Open Rabat takes place across one week. A 32-player singles draw takes place alongside a 16-team doubles competition. Also, after its promotion to the higher levels of the WTA Tour, more high-profile players have entered.
No singles player has won the competition more than once. However, some top WTA players have lifted the Morocco Open Rabat title in recent years. Elina Svitolina won in 2015, while Maria Sakkari lifted the title in 2019. In doubles, Hungarian player Timea Babos holds the record for most titles. Between 2013 and 2017, she won the doubles draw three times with three different partners.
