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The Madrid Open is one of the biggest professional clay court tennis tournaments in the world.
Known as the “Masters de Madrid” in Spanish, this pro tennis tournament is relatively new compared to some of the older ones, like the French Open or the US Open. It’s currently sponsored by Mutua Madrileña, a well-known insurance company in Spain. It is now often referred to as the Mutua Madrid Open.
If you plan on visiting Spain and are a tennis fan, this is a tournament you aren’t going to want to miss. Here are some details regarding the tournament so you’ll be prepared before you go to experience all the glory of the Madrid Open.
About the Madrid Open Tennis Tournament
The Madrid Open started in 2002. It is part of the ATP (men’s) and the WTA (women’s) professional tennis tours.
Ion Tiriac is a Romanian billionaire who used to be an ATP pro player, and has owned the tournament since 2009. The partnership he has with Mutua will continue until at least 2031, and the event brings in an annual revenue to the city of Madrid of about €107 million.
Where is the Tournament?
The tournament is held in Madrid, Spain at La Caja Mágica.
The original location of the tournament was the Madrid Arena from 2002 until 2008. When it was purchased by Mr. Tiriac, they created the new location, La Caja Mágica, which means the “magic box” in Spanish.
This facility was also the home of the Davis Cup in 2019. There are three main courts within the arena, and retractable roofing goes over all of the courts.
When is the Tournament?
The Madrid Open usually takes place in early May, right before the Italian Open, and directly following the Monte-Carlo Masters.
The 2024 Madrid Open took place April 22 – May 5.
Who are the Current Madrid Open Champions?
The current champions of the Madrid Open from 2024 are the following players:
- Men’s Singles: Andrey Rublev (Russia)
- Women’s Singles: Iga Świątek (Poland)
- Men’s Doubles: Jordan Thompson (Australia) & Sebastian Korda (USA)
- Women’s Doubles: Cristina Bucșa & Sara Sorribes Tormo (Spain)
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What Court Surface is the Madrid Open Played on?
The Madrid Open is famous for its clay courts.
In 2012, the court surface was renovated from red clay to brand new blue clay. The surface color was supposed to be better for viewing the matches on television. Many players, like Rafael Nadal, criticized the blue clay. They only kept that blue court surface for a year before switching back to red clay.
Madrid Open Prize Money & Ranking Points
The total prize money for the 2024 tournament was €7.8 million for the men’s tournament, and €7.6 million for the women. It’s broken down in the following ways:
Event | Champion | Finalist |
---|---|---|
Men’s Singles | €963,225 | €512,260 |
Women’s Singles | €963,225 | €512,260 |
Men’s Doubles | €391,680 | €207,360 |
Women’s Doubles | €391,680 | €207,360 |
This is one of only several professional tennis tournaments that is important for both the men’s and women’s tours. For the ATP Tour (men’s), the Madrid Open is one of nine Masters 1000 tournaments. For the WTA Tour (women’s) this tournament is one of four Premier Mandatory events.
The winner of the Madrid Open receives 1000 ranking points. Here are the ranking points by round.
Men’s Singles & Doubles | Women’s Singles & Doubles | |
---|---|---|
Champion | 1000 | 1000 |
Finals | 600 | 650 |
Semifinals | 360 | 390 |
Quarterfinals | 180 | 215 |
Rd. of 16 | 90 | 120 |
Rd. of 32 | 45 singles | 10 doubles | 65 singles | 10 doubles |
Rd. of 64 | 10 singles | no doubles | 10 singles | no doubles |
How to Get Tickets to the Madrid Open
The best way to get tickets to the Madrid Open is directly through the Madrid Open website. They offer different types of ticket packages.
- The “Complete” Package – Access to every day of the tournament.
- The “Tennis Fan” – Access to five sessions.
- Single sessions
- Night tickets
- Finals tickets
Keep in mind that no matter which package you buy, you have to purchase separate tickets to the finals.
You can also use a ticket reseller like StubHub or Viagogo to purchase tickets.
How Do I See the Big Matches like Nadal?
The biggest matches are usually at Stadium 1 at La Caja Mágica arena. It has the largest capacity of any of the courts.
Of course, everyone is going to want to see Spanish native, Rafal Nadal play, so his matches are always highly in demand. He has won the Madrid Open five times.
Where to Stay in Madrid for the Madrid Open
Since Madrid is a major city in Spain, there are many different hotels options to choose from that will be close to the venue.
La Caja Mágica, where the tournament takes place, is right in the heart of the city. There aren’t any hotels within walking distance of the arena, but these choices are close enough for a short ride, about one to two miles away.
High-End Hotel Options
Madrid has many great 4-5 star hotel options. Here are a few to consider.
- AC Hotel Carlton Madrid by Marriott: located downtown, a four-star property.
- Agumar Hotel Madrid: another four-star property, a little over a mile away.
- NH National: a five-star hotel that is located a mile and a half away and has easy access to the train stations for sight-seeing.
- Atocha Hotel Madrid, Tapestry Collection by Hilton: a beautiful property that is ~15 minute drive to the tournament.
Budget-Friendly Hotel Options
Here are some 2-3 star options to choose from.
All of these budget-friendly hotels are within two miles of the tournament venue.
Airbnb & VRBO
Airbnb and VRBO are also great options because many people in the city rent out their apartments during the event. You can rent an entire house, a full apartment, or a room in someone’s home.
Search for flights, hotels, and car rentals in Madrid here:
Getting Around Madrid
It’s easy to get around Madrid. From the downtown area to the stadium, you can use the subway, bus system, taxi, or hire a town car. Your hotel will be able to give you the contact information for private town car drivers.
It’s also an easy city to walk around. If you have a great pair of walking shoes, you can easily walk the one to two miles from your hotel to the tournament venue.
How to Make Your Madrid Open Experience Great
There are three different stadiums that make up La Caja Mágica.
- Stadium 1 – Central Court or Manolo Santana Stadium
- Stadium 2 – Arantxa Sanchez Vicario Stadium
- Stadium 3 – which doesn’t have a specific name.
You just need a grounds pass to enter Stadium 3. All three of those stadiums are under a series of retractable roofing.
There are also eight outside courts and a lower level that is called the “Tennis Garden.” It’s really easy to walk back and forth between all of the practice courts on a walkway platform in the Tennis Garden to catch all the action with panoramic viewing.
When to Arrive at the Tournament
You will want to arrive early each day at the tournament. You’ll be able to walk around the bottom level of La Caja Mágica which has a variety of retail shops, food options, a media center, entertainment, and beverage venues.
You can also step up to the raised platform to view some of the matches that will happen at the outer courts away from the main three stadiums.
What to Bring with You
It will be mild and comfortable during the beginning of May in Madrid, so make sure you dress in spring-appropriate clothes, and bring a light jacket for night matches. The average temperature is usually around 72 degrees.
You aren’t allowed to bring in any outside food or drink. Keep in mind once you enter the event for the day you aren’t allowed to leave and re-enter.
What to Expect Inside
Expect a family-friendly tennis event. There are plenty of options for things the kids can do such as a Lego playroom, fun social media booths, and open spaces for the kids to run around.
It’s a generally festive atmosphere where you’ll have a great time talking to native Spanish tennis fans about your favorite players. There is a lot of open space, and it’s easy to walk around because the event isn’t overcrowded. There are plenty of restroom access points as well.
How to Watch the Madrid Open Tournament on TV
There are a few options to watch the Madrid open virtually. You may need to check your local listing first. The Tennis Channel usually airs most of the matches, you can upgrade to Tennis Channel Plus to choose from multiple matches.
ATP Tennis TV shows all of the men’s matches, but you must have a subscription.