Feliciano Lopez: 'Federer, Nadal and Djokovic make Madrid the one to watch'
Back in December, the 20-time Grand Slam champion Roger Federer had announced he would return to clay in 2019, avoiding the slowest surface since Rome 2016 and skipping the last three editions of the Roland Garros. There were many speculations about his possible April-May calendar that would leave him towards Paris although he ruled out Monte Carlo and Geneva, saying those tournaments are not in his plans. There were some rumors Roger would play Barcelona but everything became clear on Wednesday when the Swiss confirmed he would compete in Madrid for the first time since 2015!
The three-time Madrid Masters champion claimed two titles on clay in Caja Magica, beating Rafael Nadal in 2009 final and becoming the only winner of the ATP title on blue clay in 2012. Roger's coeval and old rival Feliciano Lopez will run Mutua Madrid Open for the first time in 2019 and he is thrilled to have Roger in the draw, calling him one of the greatest players of all time and inviting fans to come to Caja Magica and enjoy in a stellar line-up that also includes Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic. A former tournament director Manolo Santana added that Roger's appearance gives Madrid Open a special note as he is still capable of delivering superb tennis even at the age of 37. Roger made his Madrid debut 17 years ago and he played one of the best matches of this event ever against Nick Kyrgios in 2015, wasting two match points in a 7-6, 6-7, 7-6 defeat.
“Federer is one of the best players of all time, it’s no secret,” said Feliciano Lopez. “We are happy because his return to Madrid is a gift to the tournament, but above all the fans will be able to see a unique player in the Caja Mágica. Having the Swiss player back on clay with Djokovic and Nadal is going to be unmissable.”
“Roger’s presence in the Caja Mágica will make this year’s Mutua Madrid Open special,” said Manolo Santana, Honorary President of the tournament. “It doesn’t matter that he’s 37 because he still has that unmistakable class; the innate talent that has made him one of the best of all time. Being able to enjoy his tennis is something that no fan of the sport should miss.”
from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/2TaRbHb
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