Who Owns the Madrid Open?

By Michael Ferguson

The Madrid Open is one of the premier tennis tournaments in the world, attracting top players from around the globe. It is held annually in Madrid, Spain and has been a part of the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 series since 2009.

However, have you ever wondered who owns this prestigious tournament? Let’s take a closer look.

History of Madrid Open

The Madrid Open was first played in 2002 as an ATP World Series event. Since then, it has undergone several changes in ownership and format.

In 2009, it became a part of the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 series and was played on clay courts. The tournament switched to blue clay courts in 2012, but the move was met with mixed reactions from players and fans alike. It returned to red clay the following year.

The Current Owners

As of now, the Madrid Open is owned by Ion Tiriac, a former Romanian tennis player turned businessman. Tiriac has had a long and successful career both on and off the court. He was a top-ranked doubles player in the 1970s and later went on to coach some of the biggest names in tennis, including Boris Becker and Goran Ivanisevic.

After retiring from coaching, Tiriac turned his attention to business and became one of Romania’s wealthiest citizens. He has invested heavily in various industries such as banking, insurance, real estate, and media.

In 2009, Tiriac acquired ownership of the Madrid Open along with his partner Gerard Tsobanian. Tsobanian had previously served as tournament director for several years before becoming co-owner with Tiriac.

Tiriac’s Vision for Madrid Open

Since taking over ownership of the Madrid Open, Tiriac has made several changes to improve the tournament’s quality and prestige. He has invested heavily in upgrading facilities at Caja Magica, the tournament’s venue, and has added several innovative features such as a retractable roof and a new court surface called “Clay-Tech.”

Tiriac’s vision for the Madrid Open is to make it one of the most prestigious tournaments in the world. He has stated that he wants to create an event that is not just about tennis but also about entertainment and culture.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Madrid Open is currently owned by Ion Tiriac, a former tennis player turned successful businessman. Tiriac’s vision for the tournament is to make it one of the most prestigious events in tennis.

With his wealth of experience and resources, he seems well-equipped to achieve this goal. Tennis fans around the world eagerly await each year’s edition of the Madrid Open to see what new innovations Tiriac has in store.