The Mutua Madrid Open and the International Tennis Hall of Fame paid a heartfelt tribute to living legends of Spanish tennis on the clay of Manolo Santana Stadium on Tuesday, with three players inscribed in the hall of fame in attendance: Manolo Santana, the tournament director at the Madrid Open whose name the main show court carries; former world number one and winner of four Grand Slam championships Arantxa Sánchez-Vicario, and Manuel Orantes, one of the great pioneers of Spanish tennis, were all honoured during the ceremony.

Ion Tiriac, the owner of the Mutua Madrid Open, was also recognized through a montage on the big screens on centre court, which highlighted the important part he has played in the history of the sport. He was also presented with a ring by the International Tennis Hall of Fame.

The ceremony, which was also attended by Rafael Nadal following his second-round victory, also featured the participation of Spanish tennis greats including Albert Costa, Carlos Costa, Alberto Berasategui, Tomás Carbonell and Àlex Corretja, who joined in the homage to these legendary players.