With just three months until the start of the Mutua Madrid Open, the tournament organisers have decided to grant one of their invitations to Maria Sharapova. The news means that the ex-world number 1 and 4-time grand slam champion will be in the Caja Mágica from 5 to 14 May.

The director of the Mutua Madrid Open, Manolo Santana had the following to say about the concession of this Wild Card: “Sharapova requested an invitation to play in the tournament and after considering it, we decide to give her a Wild Card. Maria is one of the best players of the last 15 years and also a past winner of our tournament. In Madrid she always plays well and I’m sure she will come back to the courts highly motivated and hoping to do well in her first tournaments”.

Maria Sharapova is one of six past Mutua Madrid Open champions. After falling at the last hurdle against Serena Williams in 2013, Sharapova had an extraordinary tournament in 2014 when she came back in the final against Simona Halep (1-6, 6-2, 6-3) to eventually lift the Ion Tiriac Trophy. In her last appearance at the Caja Mágica Sharapova she reached the semi-finals, where she was seen off by an inspired Svetlana Kuznetsova (6-2, 6-4).

Mutua Madrid Open CEO and President Gerard Tsobanian also spoke of his satisfaction at the news: “Sharapova is one of those players that all tennis fans want to see. Her presence in the Caja Mágica is great news for the tournament, for the fans and also for the city of Madrid. There will soon be more good news as we are putting a lot of effort, care and determination into this tournament, where we hope to further improve on last year’s”.  

Tickets and season tickets for the Mutua Madrid Open can be purchased at www.madrid-open.com and entradas.com