The Mutua Madrid Open chose the five best matches in its history to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the tournament. After a vote through social networks in which more than 90,000 fans participated to choose their favoritethese were the meetings that were winners among all the votes received.
Top 5: Serena Williams vs Azarenka
Round of 16 2015
Serena Williams arrived at the Mutua Madrid Open as No. 1 in the WTA Ranking to defend it. In the round of 16, after leaving her compatriots Madison Brengle and Sloane Stephens behind, she met another player who knew what it was like to be the best in the world and play finals in the Magic Box. So much so that Victoria Azarenka pushed the American to the limit, forcing her to raise up to three match points. But, finally, the balance fell on the side of the youngest of the Williams sisters 7-6(5), 3-6, 7-6(1).
Top 4: Federer vs Feliciano Lpez
Second round 2011
Feliciano López has never been able to beat Roger Federer in the 13 occasions they have met, but if he ever came close it was in the second round of the 2011 Mutua Madrid Open. The Spaniard, who had beaten Milos Raonic in his premiere, took the Swiss to the tie-break of the third set, where he came to have a shot that if he had hit it would have placed him with four match points. However, Federer recovered and ended up prevailing 7-6(13), 6-7(1), 7-6(7) in two hours and 56 minutes.
Top 3: Sharapova vs Halep
Final 2014
At that time Simona Halep, at 22 years old, was beginning to give warnings of everything that would come later, but Maria Sharapova was already a consolidated star with many hours of flight on the circuit. At the Mutua Madrid Open she won one of the last titles of her career -specifically 31 of the 35 she won in total- against the brave Romanian, who demanded her best level at the Manolo Santana Stadium. In the 2014 final, Sharapova scored her third win in a row against a Top 5 opponent with a 1-6, 6-2, 6-3 comeback.
Top 2: Nadal vs Ljubicic
Final 2005
Despite the years, it is still one of the great finals in Rafael Nadal’s career and, without a doubt, the most epic in the history of the Mutua Madrid Open. Even on the indoor hard court at the old Casa de Campo venue, the Spaniard -exhausted after a long season in which he had lifted 10 titles before- gave up the first two sets against Ivan Ljubicic 3-6, 2-6 . When the stage was looking the worst, he drew strength to end up turning the score around in an exhibition of dedication, struggle and talent. He linked three sets 6-3, 6-4, 7-6(3). Nadal achieved in three hours and 53 minutes the eleventh trophy of 2005 and the only one that still remains in his palm on that surface.
Top 1: Nadal vs Djokovic
Semifinal 2009
The first clay-court edition of the Caja Mgica in 2009 booked the longest match in ATP Masters 1000 history to date. It was staged by Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic in the semifinals, where after four hours and three minutes, the Spaniard defeated the Serbian 3-6, 7-6(5), 7-6(9). Despite the fact that the Balkan won more points that day (125 against 120) and had three match points in the third set tie-break, it was the Balearic who ensured his presence in the fourth consecutive final, after Monte Carlo, Barcelona and Rome. He left his record on the clay court tour that year at 17-0 until then.
The Mutua Madrid Open broadcast the five winning matches on their social networks (Twitter and Facebook) every Thursday at 7:00 p.m. starting next March 24.
