Mutua Madrid Open Virtual Pro – Everything you need to know
• 3 MINUTE READ
In the absence of the ATP and WTA Mutua Madrid Open taking place, having been postponed due to the coronavirus crisis, the event organisers will instead host a tennis Esports tournament from 27-30 April involving a number of the world’s top players, including Brit’s Andy Murray and Johanna Konta.
The innovative tournament will be a virtual replica of Madrid’s tennis competition, with some of the biggest ATP and WTA stars competing at the Tennis World Tour video game, from the comfort of their own home, swapping their rackets for a Playstation 4 game controller.
The event aims to raise money and help the tennis players most in need during this time, all those that have no income to help them through these months of inactivity, and those affected by Covid-19.
How Will It Work
The tournament will include 16 singles players in each of two draws (ATP and WTA) initially divided into four groups. In each group, players will compete online in a round-robin format with the group winner and runner-up progressing to the quarter-finals. From there (quarter-finals, semi-finals and final) the tournament will be played as a knock-out until the virtual ATP and WTA champions are crowned.
As well as the official competition, there will be a series of benefit matches that will see some of the biggest content creators in the gaming world take on the professional tennis players to raise funds to help those affected by Covid-19.
The Draw
Men’s Singles
Group 1
Rafael Nadal
Benoit Paire
Denis Shapovalov
Andy Murray
Group 2
Dominic Thiem
Diego Schwartzman
John Isner
David Ferrer
Group 3
Stefanos Tsitsipas
Fabio Fognini
Kei Nishikori
Frances Tiafoe
Group 4
Alexander Zverev
David Goffin
Karen Khachanov
Lucas Pouille
Women’s Singles
Group 1
Karolina Pliskova
Belinda Bencic
Fiona Ferro
Carla Suárez
Group 2
Elina Svitolina
Johanna Konta
Victoria Azarenka
Sorana Cirstea
Group 3
Bianca Andreescu
Madison Keys
Kristina Mladenovic
Caroline Wozniacki
Group 4
Kiki Bertens
Angelique Kerber
Donna Vekic
Eugenie Bouchard
Prize Money
Prize money for the event stands at 150,000 euros (£131,700) in both draws (ATP and WTA), which will be directed to good causes - with the winners able to donate part of it to players currently struggling financially and towards reducing the social impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.
How Can You Follow
The Mutua Madrid Open Virtual Pro will officially kick off on Monday 27 April at 14:00 (BST), and at the same time on the other three days.
The action will be streamed live across Facebook Gaming from the Mutua Madrid Open account. To follow how the Brit’s are getting on, be sure to follow the LTA on all social channels.
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