The Galería de Cristal at the Palacio de Cibeles hosted the official presentation of the 2022 Mutua Madrid Open on Friday. On the 20th anniversary of the tournament in the Spanish capital, with an ever-growing history, the event is celebrating a special edition this year.
Under the almost two thousand triangular windows that crown the room adjoining the City Council, the event was attended by a number of special guests. Two of the biggest names in the tournament, Carlos Alcaraz and Paula Badosa were the visible faces of the presentation. The Murcia native played in the event last year as a wildcard and this time he arrives as the world number nine. The Catalonian world No. 2 has already played her opener in the Manolo Santana Stadium, where she produced a convincing win on Thursday.
They were joined by two key figures from the tournament’s history, two-time champions Simona Halep and Andy Murray. The Romanian, who won in 2016 and 2017, and the Briton, crowned in 2008 and 2015, completed the line-up of superstar players.
Also in attendance at the event were Feliciano López, Director of the Mutua Madrid Open; the Mayor and Deputy Mayor of Madrid, José Luis Martínez Almeida and Begoña Villacís; the Government’s Culture, Tourism and Sport Delegate, Andrea Levy; Vice President of Mutua Madrileña, Jaime Montalvo; the President of Endeavor, Mark Shapiro; and the Director of the Marca newspaper, Juan Ignacio Gallardo.
This special edition, which will celebrate two decades of the event on tour, also marks the first time it will take place without one of its greatest figures and ambassadors, Manolo Santana, who passed away in December 2021 and this morning was officially honoured by the city of Madrid.
