What Is 2003 Grand Prix Hassan II - Doubles

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Last updated: April 15, 2026

Quick Answer: The 2003 Grand Prix Hassan II – Doubles was a men's tennis tournament held in Casablanca, Morocco, from April 14 to April 20, 2003. The title was won by Moroccan pair Younes El Aynaoui and Hicham Arazi, who defeated José de Armas and Juan Martín Aranguren in the final.

Key Facts

The 2003 Grand Prix Hassan II took place from April 14 to April 20, 2003, in Casablanca, Morocco.
Younes El Aynaoui and Hicham Arazi won the doubles title, defeating José de Armas and Juan Martín Aranguren in the final.
The tournament was part of the ATP International Series, categorized as a 250-level event.
It was played on outdoor clay courts at the Complexe Al Amal.
This was the first time a Moroccan pair won the doubles title at the Grand Prix Hassan II.

Overview

The 2003 Grand Prix Hassan II – Doubles was a professional men's tennis competition held as part of the ATP Tour. Taking place in Casablanca, Morocco, the event featured top international and local players competing on outdoor clay courts.

This edition was notable for the unexpected success of the Moroccan duo, who captured the title on home soil. The tournament served as an important stop on the clay-court season leading up to Roland Garros.

Event Dates: The tournament ran from April 14 to April 20, 2003, aligning with the early European clay swing.
Location: Matches were held at the Complexe Al Amal in Casablanca, a venue known for its fast-drying clay surfaces.
Surface: The event was played on outdoor red clay, a surface favoring baseline players with strong endurance.
ATP Category: Classified as an ATP International Series 250 event, offering 250 ranking points to the winners.
Prize Money: The total prize purse was $325,000, typical for a tournament of this level during the 2003 season.

How It Works

The doubles competition followed a standard ATP 16-team draw format with seeded pairs and straight knockout progression. Matches were best-of-three sets, including a match tiebreak in place of a third set.

Draw Size: The doubles event featured a 16-team bracket, with eight seeded pairs receiving first-round byes.
Scoring Format: Matches used a best-of-three sets format, with a 10-point match tiebreak replacing the third set.
Seeding: The top two seeds were determined by ATP rankings, with Younes El Aynaoui and Hicham Arazi unseeded.
Home Advantage: The Moroccan pair benefited from local support and familiarity with court conditions at Complexe Al Amal.
Final Match: El Aynaoui and Arazi defeated the unseeded team of José de Armas and Juan Martín Aranguren in three sets: 6–4, 3–6, [10–6].
Historic Win: This marked the first time Moroccan players won the doubles title since the tournament's inception in 1984.

Comparison at a Glance

Below is a comparison of the 2003 Grand Prix Hassan II – Doubles with similar ATP events from the same year:

Tournament	Location	Surface	ATP Level	Prize Money
Grand Prix Hassan II	Casablanca, Morocco	Clay	250 Series	$325,000
U.S. Men's Clay Court Championships	Houston, USA	Clay	250 Series	$350,000
Barcelona Open	Barcelona, Spain	Clay	500 Series	$850,000
Marrakech Challenger	Marrakech, Morocco	Clay	Challenger	$106,500
Rome Masters	Rome, Italy	Clay	Masters 1000	$2,450,000

The 2003 Grand Prix Hassan II was modest in scale compared to higher-tier clay events but played a key role in developing North African tennis. Its prize money and ranking points were competitive within the 250 Series, attracting mid-ranked ATP players and local talent.

Why It Matters

The 2003 doubles victory by El Aynaoui and Arazi had lasting significance for Moroccan and African tennis. It highlighted the potential for homegrown talent to succeed on the ATP Tour, especially in doubles where coordination and strategy are crucial.

National Pride: The win sparked celebrations in Morocco, marking a rare ATP title for local players on home soil.
Development Impact: The success encouraged investment in Moroccan tennis academies and youth programs in the early 2000s.
ATP Representation: It demonstrated that ATP events in Africa could produce competitive and newsworthy outcomes.
Player Legacy: Hicham Arazi, primarily known for singles, added a significant doubles title to his career achievements.
Media Coverage: The final received extensive coverage in Arabic and French media, boosting tennis visibility in North Africa.
Tournament Prestige: Winning the doubles title elevated the status of the Grand Prix Hassan II within the ATP calendar.

Overall, the 2003 edition remains a landmark moment in the tournament's history, symbolizing regional growth and the global reach of professional tennis.