Madrid plays virtually - by WTA and ATP professionals
As a replacement for the initially postponed WTA or ATP tournament in Madrid, the organizers have now launched a virtual tournament in which professionals of the women and men tour are to take part.
by tennisnet.com
last edit: Apr 08, 2020, 02:17 pm
The combined women and men event in Madrid has already set standards: in 20142, when organizer Ion Tiriac thought it was a good idea to apply blue sand in the Caja Magical. The lamentation was almost without exception great among the top players, especially Rafael Nadal was unable to gain anything from the experiment. Only Roger Federer enjoyed the unfamiliar ash color, the Swiss won the tournament, his penultimate so far to ash (after that only Istanbul 2015 came).
Now the Madrilenians are again in full swing, but this time on a virtual level: Because of course the tournament cannot take place between May 3 and 10, 2020. The game should still be played - with the participation of professionals who would have found themselves in the tableaus of the respective main fields. And on the computer.
Support for financially weaker professionals
16 WTA and ATP players are now scheduled to host a virtual tournament between April 27 and 30. And fight for a total prize money of 150,000 euros. With the idea that part of this exchange goes to colleagues who have more financial problems than tennis without Ashleigh Barty, Novak Djokovic or the other aces. In addition, 50,000 euros will go to organizations that are fighting the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Tennis World Tour is played, fans can be there live. It is not yet clear who will climb into the ring.
In any case, tournament director Feliciano Lopez is already looking forward to it. "The birth of the Mutua Madrid Open Virtual Pro highlights the technological, youthful and innovative side of our tournament, which has been a hallmark since our start in 2009 and fits the current situation." It is rather questionable whether the game is played virtually on blue sand. Lopez continued: "We organized a tournament for the professional players that comes closest to the original without the players having to leave their homes."