Our customary barometer for innovation in the world of tennis would evaluate the introduction of new technologies, the use of new materials for courts and rackets, or changes to rules or officiating. However, the Mutua Madrid Open has decided to chart a new course in a very different area —at the very top, in the office. A few months ago, Garbiñe Muguruza received a phone call that would transform the tournament and take its organisation to a new level, putting it at the forefront of global sports management.
When the former world number one picked up, the voice she heard was that of Gerard Tsobanian, CEO of the Mutua Madrid Open, and he had a groundbreaking preposition for her: “Would you like to be a co-director of the tournament alongside Feliciano López?” Tsobanian asked. Muguruza did not hesitate, and with her answer a new era began in the Caja Magica; one with a dual leadership structure—an unprecedented move on both the ATP and WTA tours.
This decision, which places the two-time Grand Slam champion alongside Feliciano López, who has been tournament director since succeeding the late great Manolo Santana in 2019, is far from a symbolic gesture. It is a strategic move in response to the scale the tournament has reached and a statement about how tennis should be governed from its institutions in the 21st century.
“Garbiñe’s appointment is not a symbolic gesture. It’s a conviction and a declaration of principles. We firmly believe that tennis leadership must be built from diverse, complementary perspectives, each with the same voice and the same influence. The experience of a Grand Slam champion like her is invaluable for a tournament like ours”, Tsobanian says of Muguruza’s arrival. “We don’t just talk about equality: we design it, we implement it, and we make it visible. We have long delivered it in terms of prize money, between men and women, and now we’re doing the same in our internal management structure too. I’m sure Garbiñe will complement Feliciano perfectly”, adds the CEO of the Mutua Madrid Open.
While Manolo Santana laid the foundation for this dream, and Feliciano López consolidated it as one of the world’s most prestigious and technologically advanced tournaments, this new dual management is the third major milestone in the Mutua Madrid Open’s institutional history. It is the logical evolution of a tournament that, given its expansion, needed to increase its management capacity.
Enthusiasm and commitment; Garbiñe’s recipe
A legend of Spanish tennis, Muguruza announced her retirement in April 2024, but when she hung up her racket, she already knew her future would remain entwined with the sport that had given her so much. Two months after her farewell, the Spaniard became the director of the WTA Finals and now she is embarking on a new adventure in the Caja Magica. She does so with enthusiasm and dedication —the same recipe that took her to the top of tennis and to victory at Roland Garros and Wimbledon. But Muguruza also comes with a promise; to give her all so that the Mutua Madrid Open can continue to be a benchmark in world sport, both in terms of its tennis and its organisation.
“This tournament has always been committed to modernity and innovation, and I’m especially excited to be part of a project that keeps evolving and isn’t afraid to lead important changes in our sport,” says the new co-director of the Mutua Madrid Open regarding her return to what has always been her home. “My aim, along with Feliciano, will be to contribute my experience and help Madrid remain a pioneer at the cutting-edge of the tennis world—a modern, egalitarian, ambitious tournament that is fully connected to the future of the game. I am truly excited to work on a project that genuinely values equality between men and women, even in its decision-making roles, and continues to set the standard for both tours.”
An unprecedented structure in tennis
The new structure formed by Garbiñe Muguruza and Feliciano López is unique among Masters 1000/WTA 1000 and Grand Slam events. Having a Davis Cup champion and a Wimbledon and French Open champion at the helm sends a powerful message to the ecosystem, not just of tennis, but of global sport: talent and experience have no gender; rather, they complement and strengthen one another.
“Garbiñe’s arrival is fantastic news for the tournament and a very clear sign of where we want to go as an organisation. Her experience at the highest level and her ability to understand what both players and spectators want will bring a great deal to the Mutua Madrid Open”, explains Feliciano López, director of the event since 2019. “Madrid has always been a pioneer, a tournament that never settles and isn’t afraid to innovate while others prefer to wait. Bringing Garbiñe into the co-director role not only strengthens the tournament from a sporting and organisational perspective, but also reinforces our commitment to real equality between men and women in all areas of tennis, including leadership.”
Equality has always been a non-negotiable part of the Mutua Madrid Open’s DNA. Since moving to the Caja Mágica to become a Masters 1000 and WTA 1000 with simultaneous men’s and women’s draws, the tournament has set an example by offering equal purses and genuinely promoting players from both tours. Muguruza’s appointment as co-director of the Mutua Madrid Open reinforces this commitment and lays the groundwork for what many tournaments will do in the future. Everything always begins in the Caja Magica.