Richard Gasquet and Tommy Robredo return in Barcelona Open Nations Cup exhibition

The Barcelona Open will open its 2026 edition with a different kind of draw, as four former Tour figures return for a one-off doubles exhibition. Richard Gasquet, Tommy Robredo, Sergi Bruguera and Sébastien Grosjean are set to feature in the “Nations Cup,” scheduled for April 9, two days before the main draw begins.

The format will see France face Spain, with Gasquet and Grosjean taking on Bruguera and Robredo. While the match carries no ranking points, it adds a layer of continuity to the tournament’s identity on clay, linking current competition with a generation closely associated with the surface.

Between them, the four players combined for 46 ATP titles. Bruguera stands out as a two-time Roland Garros champion, while Robredo and Gasquet both built long careers with consistent presence on clay. Grosjean, a former World No.4, adds further weight to the French side, having reached multiple Grand Slam semifinals during his career.

The exhibition reflects a broader trend across the Tour, where former players remain visible through selective returns, exhibition matches or hybrid roles around tournaments. In Barcelona, that presence is positioned as part of the event’s opening sequence rather than a standalone attraction.

Beyond the exhibition, the competitive field maintains the tournament’s usual strength despite its ATP 500 category. Carlos Alcaraz is set to headline the draw once again, continuing his regular participation at a venue closely tied to his development and training base.

The Spaniard is joined by multiple top-level names, including Lorenzo Musetti, Alex de Minaur and Felix Auger-Aliassime, all expected to be seeded. The depth extends further with Casper Ruud, Andrey Rublev and Cameron Norrie, while Stan Wawrinka enters via wildcard, adding experience to the lower half of the draw.

Barcelona remains one of the key stops in the early clay swing, sitting between the Sunshine Double and the Masters events in Monte Carlo and Madrid. Its position in the calendar often makes it a reference point for players adjusting from hard courts to clay conditions.

Last year’s edition reinforced that role. Holger Rune defeated Alcaraz in the final, producing one of the more notable results of the spring and underlining the tournament’s capacity for disruption despite familiar names at the top