The Mutua Madrid Open announced on Thursday the names of the first four invitees to the WTA and ATP main draws: Simona Halep, Caroline Wozniacki, Kei Nishikori and Martín Landaluce.

The WTA 1000 category tournament, having issued these two wildcards, will now have in its draw two players who know what it is to be the world No. 1, as well as having at least reached the final in the Caja Mágica.

No women has reached the decider on the Madrid clay more times than Halep. She did so for the first time in 2014, but lost the final to Maria Sharapova. However, in 2016 and 2017 she claimed her two crowns in the Manolo Santana Stadium. In 2019 she was back in the title bout, but lost out to Kiki Bertens. Halep is, along with Serena Williams, the only player to have successfully defended a WTA title in Madrid.

For her part, Wozniacki was a finalist in the first season the Caja Mágica hosted the event, 15 years ago. It was in the 2009 final that the Dane faced then world number one Dinara Safina, who eventually took the spoils. Fans will be able to watch her play again for the first time since 2019.

In the men’s draw, the return of Nishikori is big news. He came agonisingly close to the title in 2014, when only Rafa Nadal – and an injury – prevented him from completing a dream week. The Japanese player, who also reached the semifinals in 2015 and 2016, will be participating in the Mutua Madrid Open for the tenth time.

Finally, another of the wildcards will go to one of the most promising talents in Spanish tennis. Landaluce, at 18 years of age, already has experience on the clay of the Manolo Santana Stadium, having clashed with Richard Gasquet there last season. This time, he arrives in Madrid having celebrated his first win in an ATP Masters 1000 match last week in Miami.