Obituary: Pedro Munoz
The ITF is saddened to learn of the death of Pedro Munoz, former President of the Spanish Tennis Federation, who passed away on 30 January 2021 at the age of 72.
During Munoz’s tenure as RFET president from 2005 to 2009, Spain won its first Davis Cup away from home in 2008, beating Argentina in Mar del Plata. The nation’s Billie Jean King Cup side – then called Fed Cup – reached the final that same year, losing to Russia.
As well as his service as president of RFET, and of the Madrid Tennis Federation from 2001 to 2005, Munoz was founder and honorary president of the Open Villa de El Espinar, taking it from a local tournament in 1986 to one of the leading stops on the ATP Challenger Tour, the tournament status it has held since 1991.
Over the years, the Open Villa de El Espinar has played host to such names as Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, Andy Murray and Yevgeny Kafelnikov – all of whom went on to become ATP world No. 1 – as well as Juan Martin del Potro and Spanish greats Sergi Bruguera, Emilio Sanchez Vicario, Fernando Verdasco and Feliciano Lopez. It stood apart in Spanish tennis as a leading tournament played on hard courts and at altitude, and since 2015 has also hosted a women's ITF World Tennis Tour event.
Nadal was among those from the Spanish tennis community who paid tribute to Munoz on social media, posting: “My condolences to Pedro's family and the Spanish tennis family. Rest in peace.”
Carla Suarez Navarro wrote that it was “a sad day for those of us who love this sport – best wishes to all your family and friends,” while Feliciano Lopez added: “We will always remember you for your love of tennis.”
Emilio Sanchez Vicario, who led Spain to that Davis Cup triumph in 2008, wrote: “He was passionate about tennis and gave me the opportunity to be the captain of the team, a friend who founded the El Espinar Open. He treated the Clavets and Quino Munoz like his sons. Big hugs to his family.”
Spanish Billie Jean King Cup legend Conchita Martinez described Munoz as a “great defender and lover of our sport,” while current captain Anabel Medina Garrigues added: “In addition to his other roles, Pedro Muñoz was one of the biggest promoters of women's tennis in Spain.”
“This time there was no “miracle of El Espinar’,” wrote former doubles world No. 1 Virginia Ruano Pascual, who is now tournament director of the Villa de El Espinar Open. “We will miss you, with your jokes, anecdotes, and your fight for the sport you loved so much, tennis.”
Former world No. 1 Alex Corretja wrote on Twitter: “He was president of the RFET, but above all he was passionate about our sport and a great friend of his friends.”
ITF President David Haggerty said: “It is with great sadness that we learnt of the passing of Pedro Munoz, whose impact on tennis in Spain extends far beyond his term as president of RFET.
“His vision for Spanish tennis, from grass roots to the professional game, fortified the foundations of the sport as it went from strength to strength at the start of the 21st Century.
“Our thoughts are with his family and friends at this difficult time.”