Lopez happy to have Roger Federer in Madrid: 'He is like the US President'
The Feliciano Lopez's first year as the Mutua Madrid Open Tournament Director could not start better. Roger Federer will play the Spanish event for the first time since 2015, which makes Lopez very excited: "We are happy because it has been for some years that Roger did not play on clay by his choice and having Federer means a lot. People are getting crazy, they ask on what day and at what time he will play. When Roger Federer visits any country, it seems that the United States President comes and the country transforms. We are very happy that he decided to come to Madrid and that it will be his first clay-court tournament of the year for him", Lopez told Marca
Lopez believes that many factors make the tournament interesting: "This year it will be very special. We will give the farewell to David Ferrer who is a legend and an example for all of us. He is a special person and we hope that he ends with a good memory. Federer, Rafa, Djokovic, the entire women's event... Out of the last years, this is the most special one."
Asked how much his friendship with the 20-time Grand Slam winner may have influenced, the Toledo native replied: "Federer decides his schedule depending on his goals and on what he believes it's right to him. More than speaking with him and telling him 'Roger, come to Madrid, we want you' I cannot do. Once he decided to be back at the French Open, I thought that Madrid would be the ideal tournament to prepare himself. Madrid court condition favours Federer more than any other clay-court event. Like me, this year Roger will turn 38 and who knows if he will play again in Madrid in the future. If this one will be the last, I invite everyone to come because seeing Federer live is something unique. We may have the best clay-court tournament on tour, above even to French Open, we treat players well and many things make them willing to come back."
from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/2TRCLfr
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