• Dire.Coronavirus in Spain, breaking news
  • Reportage. In the dark and unarmed, the 'duel' of the tennis players in confinement: "Hard to play this year"

With all ATP and WTA circuits halted by the coronavirus crisis, some organizers have launched novel initiatives to entertain fans and try to keep their focus on the sport. One of them is the Mutua Madrid Virtual, which will take place within 15 days, from April 27 to 30, and which, according to the poster, will feature the best players in the world. In fact, this Saturday the organization of the tournament announced that Rafa Nadal, Kiki Bertens, John Isner and Fiona Ferro will participate in it.

After the cancellation of the Mutua Madrid Open, which was to be held from May 1 to 10, the great tennis stars will face off at the Manolo Santana Stadium, recreated in detail in the Tennis World Tour (Nacon Gaming) video game, but changing the racket for the PlayStation 4.

Rafa Nadal, one of the best players of all time, is also the tennis player with the most titles in the history of the Mutua Madrid Open, a total of five (2005, 2010, 2013, 2014 and 2017). "From the confinement and with the encouragement that we are giving ourselves, happy to participate in the virtual tournament in Madrid and how could it be otherwise, I will try to give everything," said Nadal. "I don't know how it will be, but I hope to be with you and feel your support as it always happens every time I play at home, this time virtual."

Kiki Bertens, the current champion of the Mutua Madrid Open (in 2019 she beat Simona Halep in the grand final), will not be able to defend her title on the clay court of the Caja Mágica due to current circumstances, but the Dutchwoman has not hesitated to accept the challenge of trying to win the trophy at the Mutua Madrid Open Virtual Pro. "I think it is a fun initiative for a great cause. I will miss playing in Madrid this year, since I love the tournament, but I will do my best to compete from the home sofa in the Tennis World Tour game, "said Bertens. "And I will do my best to perform as well in the virtual tournament this year as I did last year on the Madrid track."

In addition, John Isner and Fiona Ferro will also contest the tournament. The American, current world number 21 and champion of 15 titles, and the French, who conquered a few months ago the Federation Cup with France in Perth, will take the opportunity to compete in the pioneering online competition, which was born with a clear solidarity vocation to help to the tennis players most in need at the moment, to all those who do not have the income to face all these months of inactivity, and to those affected by Covid-19.

The tournament will have a donation of 150,000 euros in both tables (ATP and WTA), from which the winners will be able to decide the amount that they give to the tennis players with the most economic problems at the moment and, additionally, a total of 50,000 euros that will go entirely to reducing the social impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The format

The Mutua Madrid Open Virtual Pro will be held in the following format: 16 individual participants (ATP and WTA) initially divided into four groups. From this phase of the league, those classified for the quarterfinals of the tournament will be held, which will be held during four days of competition. In addition, in parallel to the official competition, a charity tournament will take place that will pit some of the main content creators in the gaming territory with professional tennis players to raise funds to help those affected by Covid-19.

All fans will be able to follow the development of the tournament through the internet, on television and on the social networks of the Mutua Madrid Open with a production that will feature narration and comments from all matches, as well as analysis programs, summaries and interviews with the winners. after each encounter.

To date, there are eight confirmed players: Rafael Nadal, Andy Murray, John Isner, Lucas Pouille, Kiki Bertens, Angelique Kerber, Carla Suárez and Fiona Ferro. The organization of the Mutua Madrid Open will soon reveal the rest of the participants, as well as the different novelties of the competition.

According to the criteria of The Trust Project

Know more

  • Rafael Nadal
  • sports
  • PlayStation
  • tennis

TenisNadal closes its Academy to the public: "The boys here are very well cared for"

TennisA dark and unarmed, the 'duel' of the tennis players in confinement: "Hard to play this year"

2020 Tokyo OlympicsNadal, Gasol, Mireia ... the postponement of the Games, a blow to the golden age of Spanish sport