The Mutua Madrid Open is all set to become the epicentre of world tennis once again. Established as one of the biggest international sporting events, the tournament attracts the best players in the world to the courts of the Caja Mágica in an event that keeps growing year after year. With over two decades of history behind it, and now one of the tour’s most essential stop-offs, the Spanish capital is preparing to set the clay alight with its passion.
From 22 April to 5 May, the biggest stars on the ATP and WTA Tours will be showing off their skills under the Madrid sky as they bid for one of the most coveted trophies on the circuit. Defending champions Carlos Alcaraz and Aryna Sabalenka, two brilliant players, both of whom have been world number ones in recent months, will be bidding to protect their thrones as the fans look on in awe.
Since its beginnings in the 2002 season, ushering in the 21st century, the tournament has built itself some prestigious foundations and attracted an endless list of legends. Already one of the tour’s biggest European events, the arrival of the women’s competition in 2009 gave it the global clout that now makes it ready to define an era. With its hallmark innovation, Madrid is synonymous with modern tennis, albeit with firmly established traditions.
With its newly consolidated status as a two-week event in both the women’s and men’s competitions for the second consecutive year, the tournament is now embarking on a key moment in its history. With singles draws of 96 players and a final phase that takes place over 12 days of competition, putting it on a par with the biggest events on the calendar, the Mutua Madrid Open will once again demonstrate its huge clout in the clay season.
Fans will have a broad timeframe to come and cheer on their favourite stars, with a spring atmosphere in the day sessions and the always-special attraction of the night sessions. The qualifiers will take place on Monday the 22nd and Monday the 23rd of April, warming up the clay for the main draws from Wednesday the 24th to Sunday the 5th of May. The menu will be delectable; a total of 22 sessions in which to savour the best tennis in the world up-close.
This new dimension also means a boost to the purse sizes at an event that is circled in red every year by the biggest names in the locker room. For the second consecutive year, the tournament is exceeding the 15-million-euro mark, establishing a financial commitment of €7,679,695 per tour. This new prize fund, with equal prize money for the men’s and women’s competitions, will mean the champions collect a cheque for €963,225 the biggest prize ever given by a tennis tournament on Spanish soil.
The feeling of grandeur will be motivated by the fans’ heroes. Carlos Alcaraz and Rafael Nadal will be the great hopes for the home supporters, filling the stands of the Manolo Santana Stadium with their unrivalled passion. The Murcia native, the champion of the last two editions, will be bidding for an unprecedented achievement; three consecutive crowns at the tournament. The Mallorcan, meanwhile, who has an unmatched five titles under his belt, will be hoping for another glorious campaign at an event that has played a key role in his career.
Previous champions such as Novak Djokovic and Alexander Zverev, stars like Jannik Sinner and Daniil Medvedev, and candidates to the throne like Stefanos Tsitsipas, Holger Rune and Andrey Rublev will offer up a stunning competition on the clay of the Spanish capital. The battle for glory promises to be spectacular from round one, with matches that will be sure to keep the fans on the edges of their seats.
The women’s competition promises to play a key role in the WTA season. With a plethora of potential winners, it is no surprise that the last three finals at the tournament were disputed by a group of players with experience in Grand Slam finals, making the event one of the most coveted by the biggest names. The 2023 decider between Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek, a clash between the two best players in the world, underlines the importance Madrid’s WTA 1000 has earned itself among the players.
For the home fans, the hopes of a first Spanish WTA champion are still very much alive this year, with the experience of Paula Badosa and Sara Sorribes on the clay of Madrid. The connection with the spectators, a constant source of energy for the home players, will again be key if the tournament is to see one of its biggest dreams come true.
Held at one of the tour’s most pioneering venues, with three stadiums with retractable roofs, the Mutua Madrid Open is embarking on an edition that will be a source of great pride for the organisers. It will be the event’s fifteenth year in the Caja Mágica, a home that has proven a worthy venue for the tournament since 2009, providing the stage for countless moments that have gone down in the tour’s annals. With the Manolo Santana Stadium as the jewel in its crown, the event is all set to write yet another chapter of glorious tennis.
Once again this season, Madrid will be in the spotlight. The professional tour’s travelling spectacular will set up camp on the clay of Madrid, where grand moments will be etched into history forevermore. The best players on the planet will prove an irresistible force, attracting the world’s gaze for two weeks of first-class sport. The big moment is drawing near, and tennis’ spotlight is heading for the Mutua Madrid Open.
