Being an inspiration fuels Swiatek
Iga Swiatek shot to stardom almost overnight. She started the 2020 Roland Garros tournament as an unseeded teenager ranked 54 in the world and finished it as Poland’s first ever Grand Slam singles champion. The rest, as they say, is history, as Swiatek penned more chapters to her storied career – from winning more majors, […]
MMOPEN leads the doubles revolution
During its two decades of life, the Mutua Madrid Open has been at the forefront of various innovations that have modernised the world of tennis. The latest initiative is aimed at doing just that in the doubles discipline. The ATP has decided to use Tuesday in the Caja Magica as its starting point for the […]
Learning from adversity
Carlos Alcaraz is in round four of the Mutua Madrid Open, having today passed what he called a “litmus test”. It was a day for finding out where he is, both in terms of his fitness and his tennis, in an examination that the Murcia native passed with flying colours, seeing off the Brazilian Thiago […]
Nadal prepares to go another round in the Manolo Santana Stadium
There’s no greater incentive than savouring every shot, every point and every celebration with the complicity of the Madrid fans as if it were the last. This is Rafael Nadal’s mindset at this year’s Mutua Madrid Open, which he has already regaled with two unexpected episodes. On Monday he will be hoping to carve out […]
Alcaraz, still gaining strength in Madrid
Carlos Alcaraz has a ladder to climb and the rungs are laid out before him in the Caja Mágica. The defending champion progressed on Sunday at the Mutua Madrid Open, where he is bidding to become the first player in history to claim three consecutive trophies. On a sunny day in the Spanish capital, hitting […]
Rublev survives a scare
The second match on the Manolo Santana Centre Court was one of the ATP clashes of the day. Andrey Rublev and Alejandro Davidovich Fokina were vying for a place in round three of the 2024 Mutua Madrid Open. Rublev arrived in Madrid after a run of four straight defeats. Two days ago he managed to […]
Seb Korda: the youngest of an astonishing family shines in Madrid
There are sporty families, extremely sporty families, and then there are the Kordas. Five members: three professional tennis players and two great champion golfers. One of them is still going strong at the Mutua Madrid Open. However, tomorrow he will have a mountain to claim when he faces third seed Daniil Medvedev. In tennis circles, […]
Nadal’s influence on clay, Ruud and Tsitsipas have their say
Rafael Nadal has somehow excelled in a situation where anyone else would be expected to completely lose their way. No other surface requires the variety of shots demanded by clay, resulting in more decision making and, therefore, more opportunities to falter. The permanent workload means the rewards are not immediately reaped. The challenge posed is […]
“I can never thank Madrid enough for the love”
The resurrections of Rafael Nadal just keep on coming… and coming. On Saturday in the Caja Mágica, the Spaniard earned himself yet another opportunity, and what a way to go about it. Who said today would be Rafa Nadal’s last match in Madrid? Who dared doubt the man? After his umpteenth astonishing feat in the […]
Nadal grants another wish in Madrid
The vociferous welcome from a packed Manolo Santana Stadium proved to be the prelude to a special afternoon. With a standing ovation that was fitting for the magnitude of his legacy, the Mutua Madrid Open’s centre court handed Rafael Nadal one of the most potent weapons available: a huge demonstration of affection. With the roof […]