History of Madrid Open (tennis) in Timeline

By Popular Timelines Editorial Team · Updated: April 19, 2026

The Madrid Open is an annual professional tennis tournament held in Madrid, Spain, in late April/early May. Played on clay courts at the Caja Mágica, it's both an ATP 1000 event on the ATP Tour and a WTA 1000 event on the WTA Tour, signifying its importance in both men's and women's tennis. While traditionally played on red clay, it briefly experimented with blue clay courts in 2012.

2002: Madrid Open Inauguration

In 2002, the Madrid Open was inaugurated as a men's only event and classified as one of the ATP Masters Series tournaments.

2006: Federer wins on hard courts

In 2006, Roger Federer won the Madrid Open on hard courts.

2008: Madrid Open ends at Madrid Arena

In 2008, the Madrid Open's run at the Madrid Arena concluded, being replaced by the Shanghai Masters on the schedule.

2009: Ion Țiriac ownership start

In 2009, Ion Țiriac became the owner of the Madrid Open tournament.

2009: Federer wins on red clay

In 2009, Roger Federer won the Madrid Open on red clay.

2009: Blue clay court testing

In 2009, one of the outer tennis courts was made of blue clay for players to test it.

2009: Madrid Open reborn with new ownership and location

In 2009, the Madrid Open was reborn under new ownership with a new location, surface, and time slot, expanding to include a premier women's contest and shifting to an earlier period of the tennis season.

December 2011: Blue clay officially approved

On December 1, 2011, Țiriac confirmed the official approval of the blue clay surface for the 2012 edition of the tournament, in both the ATP and WTA circuits.

2012: Blue Clay surface introduced

In 2012 the Madrid Open was played on Blue Clay. Threats of future boycotts from some players, especially Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic (who both lost on the blue surface),

2012: Federer and Williams win on blue clay

In 2012, Roger Federer won the Madrid Open on blue clay. Serena Williams also won the tournament on blue clay this year.

2012: Introduction of blue clay courts

In 2012, the Madrid Open implemented blue clay courts, proposed by Țiriac, to enhance visual appeal for television viewers.

2012: Blue clay courts used in Madrid Open

In 2012, the Madrid Open was played on blue clay courts at the Caja Mágica. This was a change from the traditional red clay surface.

2012: Blue clay officially approved

On December 1, 2011, Țiriac confirmed the official approval of the blue clay surface for the 2012 edition of the tournament, in both the ATP and WTA circuits.

2013: Return to traditional red clay

After the event in 2012, threats of future boycotts from some players, especially Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic, led the tournament to return to the traditional red clay for the 2013 season, due to the blue clay being more slippery.

2013: Serena Williams wins on red clay

In 2013, Serena Williams won the Madrid Open on red clay.

April 2019: Țiriac extends sponsorship contract

In April 2019, Țiriac extended his sponsorship contract of the Mutua Madrid Open for 10 additional years, until 2031.

2019: Tournament benefits to Madrid

In 2019, it was reported that the Madrid Open brings annual benefits exceeding €107 million to the city of Madrid.

2021: Sale of Madrid Open to IMG

In 2021, Ion Țiriac sold the Madrid Open tournament to IMG for approximately €390 million.

2021: Women's tournament expansion and sale to IMG

Starting in 2021, the women's tournament became a two-week tournament. By December of 2021, the event was sold to IMG, who planned an expansion of courts.