Flaherty’s Irish Bar: Your Tennis Destination in Barcelona

Flaherty’s Irish Bar has long been the hub for tennis enthusiasts in Barcelona. Throughout the year, we broadcast all the major ATP and WTA events. So, if you’re looking for a place to watch tennis, Flaherty’s is your best bet! Not only do we serve the finest pub grub in Barcelona, but we also offer a wide selection of beverages—from international beers to cocktails, wines, and spirits, our menu caters to all tastes. So, without further ado, let’s dive into the tennis!

How to Watch Tennis Matches in Spain

If you want to catch tennis matches in Spain, you can enjoy the major tournaments on Eurosport or Movistar+ (the latter being a subscription streaming platform). Keeping track of when and where the matches are being played can be tricky, which is why Flaherty’s Irish Bar is the go-to venue for tennis enthusiasts.

What are the 4 Grand Slam Tournaments in Tennis?

The most coveted prize in tennis is the Grand Slam, and each season, players have four opportunities to win one. Each tournament presents its own challenges, whether it’s the court surface or weather conditions. Here are some features that make each Grand Slam unique.

Australian Open

The Australian Open, held at Melbourne Park every January, kicks off the Grand Slam season. It’s a hardcourt tournament played under the scorching Australian summer heat. Hardcourt tournaments typically favor players with strong serves and powerful forehands. The current champions are Italian Yannik Sinner and Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka. The next Australian Open will take place from January 12-26, 2025.

Roland-Garros Tournament

Next on the tennis calendar is the French Open, also known as Roland-Garros. The tournament will be held from May 20 to June 9, 2024, and it’s the only Grand Slam played on clay courts. This surface tends to neutralize the advantage of powerful serves, as the ball travels slower. Matches are often longer and require more endurance and skill from players. The current champions of the French Open are Polish Iga Swiatek and Serbian Novak Djokovich. However, the player with the most titles in history is Spanish legend Rafa Nadal, with a total of 14 victories. Watching Rafa Nadal’s matches live at Flaherty’s is a must for all sports fans visiting Barcelona, as locals flock to support the great Spanish sports icon.

Wimbledon

Wimbledon, undoubtedly the most prestigious Grand Slam tournament, takes place from July 1-14. It’s the oldest of the Grand Slam tournaments and the only one played on grass, which is the fastest surface in tennis in terms of ball speed. Like hardcourts, grass tends to favor players with strong serves, but also those who are aggressive and like to approach the net. The current champions are Spanish Carlos Alcaraz and Czech Markéta Vondroušová. Although we can say that Rafa Nadal is getting closer to the sunset of his career, Spanish tennis fans have nothing to worry about. Many experts believe that Carlos Alcaraz is his successor and could have a career as brilliant as his childhood hero, Nadal.

US Open

The US Open, held during the last week of August each year, is the final test in the series and takes place at Flushing Meadows Stadium in the famous Queens neighborhood of New York City. This tournament, also played on hardcourts, has historically been a venue for discovering local talents such as Jimmy Connors, Pete Sampras, or Serena Williams.

Tennis in Spain

Spain has a rich history in tennis. The first major star of this sport was Manuel Santana, who won 4 Grand Slams throughout his career and was the first Spaniard in history to win one. Traditionally, Spanish players have performed especially well on the clay courts of Roland Garros, with a total of 26 wins among 9 players. In the late 80s and early 90s, Arantxa Sánchez Vicario was the face of Spanish tennis, winning a total of 4 Grand Slams during her career; an incredible feat considering she played in the same era as all-time greats like Steffi Graf, Martina Navratilova, and Monica Seles, among others. In recent years, Nadal has undoubtedly been the star of Spanish tennis and can boast of being one of the greats of this sport. Will Carlos Alacaraz achieve the same as his mentor? Only time will tell.

The Best Sports Bar in Barcelona

Whether you’re visiting the Catalan capital, have made Barcelona your city, or are simply looking for the best bar to watch your favorite sports, head to Flaherty’s Irish Bar, located in the heart of the city. We have an unbeatable atmosphere that will immerse you in the excitement of your favorite sport.