The Madrid Open (Spanish: Masters de Madrid; formerly known as the Madrid Masters, and currently known as the Mutua Madrid Open for sponsorship reasons) is an annual professional tennis tournament held in Madrid, Spain. It is played on clay courts at the Caja Mágica in Manzanares Park, San Fermín, and is held in late April and early May. The tournament is an ATP Masters 1000 event on the ATP Tour and a WTA 1000 event on the WTA Tour. The tournament is traditionally played on a red clay surface, though it was played on blue clay courts in 2012.[1]

Mutua Madrid Open
Tournament information
Founded2002; 22 years ago (2002)
Editions22 (2024)
LocationMadrid
Spain
VenueMadrid Arena (2002–2008)
La Caja Mágica (since 2009)
SurfaceHard – indoors (2002–2008)
Clay – outdoors (since 2009)
Websitemutuamadridopen.com
Current champions (2024)
Men's singles Andrey Rublev
Women's singlesPoland Iga Świątek
Men's doublesUnited States Sebastian Korda
Australia Jordan Thompson
Women's doublesSpain Cristina Bucșa
Spain Sara Sorribes Tormo
ATP Tour
CategoryMasters 1000
Draw96S / 48Q / 32D
Prize money7,877,020 (2024)
WTA Tour
CategoryWTA 1000
Draw96S / 48Q / 32D
Prize moneyUS$8,770,480 (2024)

Ion Țiriac, a Romanian billionaire businessman and former ATP professional, was the owner of the tournament between 2009 and 2021.[2] According to Digi Sport which interviewed Țiriac in 2019, the tournament brings to the city of Madrid annual benefits exceeding €107 million.[3] In 2021, Țiriac sold the tournament to New York–based IMG for approximately €390 million.

History

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From its inauguration as a men's only event in 2002, the tournament was classified as one of the ATP Masters Series tournaments, where it replaced the now-defunct Eurocard Open in Stuttgart. It was held from 2002 to 2008 in the Madrid Arena as the first of two Master's indoor hard court late-season events that preceded the ATP Tour Finals (also indoors). It was replaced on the Masters schedule by the Shanghai Masters after the 2008 season. In 2009, the tournament was reborn under new ownership with a new location, new surface, and new time slot. It expanded to include a premier women's contest (replacing the tournament in Berlin) and shifted to an earlier period of the tennis season to become the second Master's tournament of the spring European clay-court swing (replacing the Hamburg Open). The event moved outdoors to Park Manzanares, where a new complex with a retractable-roof equipped main court was constructed, the Caja Magica.

Țiriac announced in April 2019 that he has extended his sponsorship contract of the Mutua Madrid Open for 10 additional years, until 2031.[4] Because he agreed to continue in Madrid, Țiriac will receive more than 30 million euros from the city of Madrid in the coming years.[3] Feliciano López was announced as the Madrid tournament director, commencing 2019.[5]

Starting in 2021, the women's tournament, part of the WTA tour, expanded to become a two-week tournament.[6] By December of the same year, it was announced Tiriac sold the event to IMG, which is now the new organizator and has already planned an expansion of courts, including a new stadium for over 10,000 people, to be built by partly draining the lake circling Caja Magica.[7]

In June 2022 ATP announced some changes to the ATP calendar for the coming year. The ATP Masters 1000 event in Madrid along with those in Shanghai and in Rome would now be held over two weeks starting in 2023, thus becoming 12 day events just like the Masters 1000 events in Indian Wells and Miami.[8]

Blue clay

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In 2012 blue clay was used for the first (and only) time in professional tennis

Tiriac proposed and implemented in 2012 a new color of blue clay for all the courts' surfaces, motivating that it would supposedly be better visually, especially for viewers on television (analogous to some hardcourt surface events migrating to blue from various previous color schemes). Some speculated that the adaptation of blue colour was a nod to the titular sponsor of the tournament, the Spanish insurance giant Mutua Madrileña. This controversial change was subsequently granted and began to be used in the 2012 edition of the tournament.[9] In 2009 one of the outer tennis courts had already been made of the new surface for the players to test it. Manuel Santana, the Open's director, had assured that aside from the colour, the surface kept the same properties as the traditional red clay.[10]

On 1 December 2011, Țiriac confirmed that the blue clay surface was officially approved for the 2012 edition of the tournament, in both the ATP and WTA circuits.[11]

However, after the event took place in 2012, threats of future boycotts from some players, especially Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic (who both lost on the blue surface), led the tournament to return to the traditional red clay for the 2013 season.[12] This was due to the blue clay being more slippery than regular clay.[13]

Roger Federer is the only male player to win the tournament on three different surfaces: hard courts (2006), red clay (2009), and blue clay (2012). Serena Williams is the only female player to win the tournament on two different surfaces: blue clay (2012) and red clay (2013).

Past finals

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Spanish player Rafael Nadal clinched the title five times on home turf (a record).

Singles

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Year Champions Runners-up Score
↓  ATP Tour Masters 1000[a]  ↓
2002   Andre Agassi (1/1)   Jiří Novák (walkover)
2003   Juan Carlos Ferrero (1/1)   Nicolás Massú 6–3, 6–4, 6–3
2004   Marat Safin (1/1)   David Nalbandian 6–2, 6–4, 6–3
2005   Rafael Nadal (1/5)   Ivan Ljubičić 3–6, 2–6, 6–3, 6–4, 7–6(7–3)
2006   Roger Federer (1/3)   Fernando González 7–5, 6–1, 6–0
2007   David Nalbandian (1/1)   Roger Federer 1–6, 6–3, 6–3
2008   Andy Murray (1/2)   Gilles Simon 6–4, 7–6(8–6)
2009[b]   Roger Federer (2/3)   Rafael Nadal 6–4, 6–4
2010   Rafael Nadal (2/5)   Roger Federer 6–4, 7–6(7–5)
2011   Novak Djokovic (1/3)   Rafael Nadal 7–5, 6–4
2012   Roger Federer (3/3)   Tomáš Berdych 3–6, 7–5, 7–5
2013   Rafael Nadal (3/5)   Stan Wawrinka 6–2, 6–4
2014   Rafael Nadal (4/5)   Kei Nishikori 2–6, 6–4, 3–0 (ret.)
2015   Andy Murray (2/2)   Rafael Nadal 6–3, 6–2
2016   Novak Djokovic (2/3)   Andy Murray 6–2, 3–6, 6–3
2017   Rafael Nadal (5/5)   Dominic Thiem 7–6(10–8), 6–4
2018   Alexander Zverev (1/2)   Dominic Thiem 6–4, 6–4
2019   Novak Djokovic (3/3)   Stefanos Tsitsipas 6–3, 6–4
2020 Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic
2021   Alexander Zverev (2/2)   Matteo Berrettini 6–7(8–10), 6–4, 6–3
2022   Carlos Alcaraz (1/2)   Alexander Zverev 6–3, 6–1
2023   Carlos Alcaraz (2/2)   Jan-Lennard Struff 6–4, 3–6, 6–3
2024  [c] Andrey Rublev (1/1)   Félix Auger-Aliassime 4–6, 7–5, 7–5

Doubles

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Year Champions Runners-up Score
↓  ATP Tour Masters 1000[a]  ↓
2002   Mark Knowles
  Daniel Nestor
  Mahesh Bhupathi
  Max Mirnyi
6–3, 7–5, 6–0
2003   Mahesh Bhupathi
  Max Mirnyi
  Wayne Black
  Kevin Ullyett
6–2, 2–6, 6–3
2004   Mark Knowles (2)
  Daniel Nestor (2)
  Bob Bryan
  Mike Bryan
6–3, 6–4
2005   Mark Knowles (3)
  Daniel Nestor (3)
  Leander Paes
  Nenad Zimonjić
3–6, 6–3, 6–2
2006   Bob Bryan
  Mike Bryan
  Mark Knowles
  Daniel Nestor
7–5, 6–4
2007   Bob Bryan (2)
  Mike Bryan (2)
  Mariusz Fyrstenberg
  Marcin Matkowski
6–3, 7–6(7–4)
2008   Mariusz Fyrstenberg
  Marcin Matkowski
  Mahesh Bhupathi
  Mark Knowles
6–4, 6–2
2009[b]   Daniel Nestor (4)
  Nenad Zimonjić
  Simon Aspelin
  Wesley Moodie
6–4, 6–4
2010   Bob Bryan (3)
  Mike Bryan (3)
  Daniel Nestor
  Nenad Zimonjić
6–3, 6–4
2011   Bob Bryan (4)
  Mike Bryan (4)
  Michaël Llodra
  Nenad Zimonjić
6–3, 6–3
2012   Mariusz Fyrstenberg (2)
  Marcin Matkowski (2)
  Robert Lindstedt
  Horia Tecău
6–3, 6–4
2013   Bob Bryan (5)
  Mike Bryan (5)
  Alexander Peya
  Bruno Soares
6–2, 6–3
2014   Daniel Nestor (5)
  Nenad Zimonjić (2)
  Bob Bryan
  Mike Bryan
6–4, 6–2
2015   Rohan Bopanna
  Florin Mergea
  Marcin Matkowski
  Nenad Zimonjić
6–2, 6–7(5–7), [11–9]
2016   Jean-Julien Rojer
  Horia Tecău
  Rohan Bopanna
  Florin Mergea
6–4, 7–6(7–5)
2017   Łukasz Kubot
  Marcelo Melo
  Nicolas Mahut
  Édouard Roger-Vasselin
7–5, 6–3
2018   Nikola Mektić
  Alexander Peya
  Bob Bryan
  Mike Bryan
5–3 (ret.)
2019   Jean-Julien Rojer (2)
  Horia Tecău (2)
  Diego Schwartzman
  Dominic Thiem
6–2, 6–3
2020 Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic
2021   Marcel Granollers
  Horacio Zeballos
  Nikola Mektić
  Mate Pavić
1–6, 6–3, [10–8]
2022   Wesley Koolhof
  Neal Skupski
  Juan Sebastián Cabal
  Robert Farah
6–7(4–7), 6–4, [10–5]
2023  [c] Karen Khachanov
 [c] Andrey Rublev
  Rohan Bopanna
  Matthew Ebden
6–3, 3–6, [10–3]
2024   Sebastian Korda
  Jordan Thompson
  Ariel Behar
  Adam Pavlásek
6–3, 7–6(9–7)

Women

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Petra Kvitová (winner in 2011, 2015 & 2018) holds the record in Madrid for the most title wins (three).
 
Simona Halep has reached four finals in Madrid, winning her first title in 2016 before defending it in 2017.
 
Ons Jabeur the 2022 champion, becoming the first African player to win a title at this level.

Singles

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Year Champions Runners-up Score
2009   Dinara Safina (1/1)   Caroline Wozniacki 6–2, 6–4
2010   Aravane Rezaï (1/1)   Venus Williams 6–2, 7–5
2011   Petra Kvitová (1/3)   Victoria Azarenka 7–6(7–3), 6–4
2012   Serena Williams (1/2)   Victoria Azarenka 6–1, 6–3
2013   Serena Williams (2/2)   Maria Sharapova 6–1, 6–4
2014   Maria Sharapova (1/1)   Simona Halep 1–6, 6–2, 6–3
2015   Petra Kvitová (2/3)   Svetlana Kuznetsova 6–1, 6–2
2016   Simona Halep (1/2)   Dominika Cibulková 6–2, 6–4
2017   Simona Halep (2/2)   Kristina Mladenovic 7–5, 6–7(5–7), 6–2
2018   Petra Kvitová (3/3)   Kiki Bertens 7–6(8–6), 4–6, 6–3
2019   Kiki Bertens (1/1)   Simona Halep 6–4, 6–4
2020 Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic
2021   Aryna Sabalenka (1/2)   Ashleigh Barty 6–0, 3–6, 6–4
2022   Ons Jabeur (1/1)   Jessica Pegula 7–5, 0–6, 6–2
2023  [c] Aryna Sabalenka (2/2)   Iga Świątek 6–3, 3–6, 6–3
2024   Iga Świątek (1/1)  [c] Aryna Sabalenka 7–5, 4–6, 7–6(9–7)

Doubles

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Year Champions Runners-up Score
2009   Cara Black
  Liezel Huber
  Květa Peschke
  Lisa Raymond
4–6, 6–3, [10–6]
2010   Serena Williams
  Venus Williams
  Gisela Dulko
  Flavia Pennetta
6–2, 7–5
2011   Victoria Azarenka
  Maria Kirilenko
  Květa Peschke
  Katarina Srebotnik
6–4, 6–3
2012   Sara Errani
  Roberta Vinci
  Ekaterina Makarova
  Elena Vesnina
6–1, 3–6, [10–4]
2013   Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova
  Lucie Šafářová
  Cara Black
  Marina Erakovic
6–2, 6–4
2014   Sara Errani (2)
  Roberta Vinci (2)
  Garbiñe Muguruza
  Carla Suárez Navarro
6–4, 6–3
2015   Casey Dellacqua
  Yaroslava Shvedova
  Garbiñe Muguruza
  Carla Suárez Navarro
6–3, 6–7(4–7), [10–5]
2016   Caroline Garcia
  Kristina Mladenovic
  Martina Hingis
  Sania Mirza
6–4, 6–4
2017   Chan Yung-jan
  Martina Hingis
  Tímea Babos
  Andrea Hlaváčková
6–4, 6–3
2018   Ekaterina Makarova
  Elena Vesnina
  Tímea Babos
  Kristina Mladenovic
2–6, 6–4, [10–8]
2019   Hsieh Su-wei
  Barbora Strýcová
  Gabriela Dabrowski
  Xu Yifan
6–3, 6–1
2020 Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic
2021   Barbora Krejčíková
  Kateřina Siniaková
  Gabriela Dabrowski
  Demi Schuurs
6–4, 6–3
2022   Gabriela Dabrowski
  Giuliana Olmos
  Desirae Krawczyk
  Demi Schuurs
7–6(7–1), 5–7, [10–7]
2023  [c] Victoria Azarenka (2)
  Beatriz Haddad Maia
  Coco Gauff
  Jessica Pegula
6–1, 6–4
2024   Cristina Bucsa
  Sara Sorribes Tormo
  Barbora Krejčíková
  Laura Siegemund
6–0, 6–2

Records

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Player(s) Record Year(s)
Most titles
Men's singles   Rafael Nadal
5
2005, 2010, 2013–14, 2017
Women's singles   Petra Kvitová
3
2011, 2015, 2018
Men's doubles   Bob Bryan
  Mike Bryan
5
2006–07, 2010–11, 2013
  Daniel Nestor[i] 2002, 2004–05, 2009, 2014
Women's doubles   Sara Errani
  Roberta Vinci
2
2012, 2014
  Victoria Azarenka[ii] 2011, 2023
Most finals
Men's singles   Rafael Nadal
8
2005, 2009–11, 2013–15, 2017
Women's singles   Simona Halep
4
2014, 2016–17, 2019
Most consecutive titles
Men's singles   Rafael Nadal
2
2013–14
  Carlos Alcaraz 2022–23
Men's doubles   Mark Knowles
  Daniel Nestor
2004–05
  Bob Bryan
  Mike Bryan
2006–07, 2010–11
Most consecutive finals
Men's singles   Rafael Nadal
3
2009–11, 2013–15
  1. ^ Daniel Nestor won these titles with two different partners; Mark Knowles and Nenad Zimonjić.
  2. ^ Victoria Azarenka won these titles with two different partners; Maria Kirilenko and Beatriz Haddad Maia.

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ a b Known as Masters Series till 2008.
  2. ^ a b Changed from indoor hard court to clay court, taking the place of the Hamburg Masters as a clay court Masters Series event.
  3. ^ a b c d e f Competed under no nationality due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

References

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  1. ^ "Madrid's blue clay given red card by ATP". 11 May 2019.
  2. ^ "Madrid Masters goes bling". tennisworldusa. 8 April 2011.
  3. ^ a b "Ion Țiriac a încheiat o nouă super-afacere. Va semna un contract de peste 30 de milioane de euro" (in Romanian). Digi Sport. 9 April 2019.
  4. ^ "El Ayuntamiento indemnizará al dueño del Mutua Madrid Open con medio millón de euros por la Copa Davis". ABC (in Spanish). 9 April 2019.
  5. ^ "Feliciano Lopez is going to be Madrid's tournament director". Baseline.
  6. ^ "Madrid Open expands to become a two-week tournament". Retrieved 27 November 2020.
  7. ^ "IMG compra la dueña del Mutua Madrid Open y el Acciona Open de España y ficha a Gerard Tsobanian" (in Spanish). 2playbook. 6 December 2021.
  8. ^ "ATP calendar: Madrid and Rome over two weeks from 2023, Munich advances". tennisnet.com. 9 June 2022. Retrieved 27 August 2022.
  9. ^ AS, Diario (29 November 2011). "El Mutua Madrid Open se jugará en una pista azul". as.com. Retrieved 28 March 2018.
  10. ^ Benito, Álvaro (26 June 2012). "Santana: "Se confundió el color de las pistas con el estado de las mismas"". Marca (in Spanish). Madrid. Retrieved 3 March 2024.
  11. ^ "Is blue the new red? Madrid's clay court revolution". December 2011. Retrieved 1 December 2011.
  12. ^ "Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal threaten to boycott Madrid Open if they don't change blue clay-court". 11 May 2012.
  13. ^ "Even four year later, bad feelings linger over the blue clay in Madrid". New York Times. 8 May 2016. Retrieved 4 July 2023.
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40°22′08″N 3°41′02″W / 40.3688°N 3.684°W / 40.3688; -3.684