Mutua Madrid Open is Spain's Tennis Grand Slam

Of the great tennis countries worldwide, Spain is the notable exception not to host one of the premier Grand Slam tournaments. However, the Mutua Madrilena Madrid Open, a clay court joint collaboration between the WTA and ATP is Spain's highest profile event. Mutua Madrid Open tickets are ready now for purchase or sale via StubHub.

An Inside look at Mutua Madrid Open

The first edition of the Mutua Madrid Open was held in 2002 as an ATP Masters 1000 event and was played indoors at the Madrid Arena from its inception as a hard-court competition until 2007. Event organisers re-energised the tournament in 2009 to include a joint WTA mandatory series, changed the playing surface to clay and shifted the event schedule to take greater prominence in the European summer clay court season. Mutua Madrid Open joins BNP Paribas Open, Brisbane International and Internazionale BNL d'Italia as other joint ATP/WTA contests. Men's tennis legend Andre Agassi won the inaugural hard-court title in 2002, while Dinara Safina won the women's title in its debut in 2009 on the clay court. Tournament officials experimented with blue clay briefly before it was abandoned under protest by several high-profile players for the traditional red colour. The Mutua Madrid Open is a mandatory event for both men and women, which means the world's top players will be competing for this coveted title. Mutua Madrid Open tickets are available now to buy or sell via StubHub.

Watch your favourite Mens/Womens players LIVE

No effort has been spared by the owners and organisers of the Mutua Madrid Open to make this competition unique among the world's high-profile tennis events as the ill-fated blue clay can attest. The men's champion trophy is made of "18-carat diamond-encrusted gold" and the prize money awarded the victors is one of the highest outside of the Grand Slams at over EUR 6 million each for the men's and women's champions. The Summer clay court series is one of the most competitive on the tennis calendar and while Roland Garros plays host to the French Open, the Mutua Madrid Open has very noticeably risen in prominence and is considered by some to be the 'Spanish Grand Slam' of tennis. Make your summer plans now and be sure to catch the top ranked players of the ATP and the WTA compete in Madrid. Whether you choose singles matches or prefer the strategy of the doubles game, an exciting afternoon or evening of quality tennis awaits at the Caja Magica. Get your tickets early. Mutua Madrid Open tickets are available now for purchase or sale via StubHub.