No Fifth Grand Slam on my watch says Feliciano Lopez, snubs rumours of Rome Open buying Madrid Open
ATP
Feliciano Lopez has stated that there are no plans to sell the Madrid Open to Rome to form a dual Masters tournament held in Italy after rumours flooded the market that the tournament was up for sale and that it could yet move.
Last year saw Andrey Rublev defeat Felix Auger-Aliassime for the title in Madrid. He produced one of the biggest shocks of that season as he took down Carlos Alcaraz on home soil 4-6, 6-3, 6-2.
But despite the recent rumours that surround the tournament, it will not be moving from its current spot and moving to Rome as an extended 1000 tournament despite recent rumours.
According to La Stampa, IGM has received an offer in region of £435million to expand the length of the Rome Masters to two weeks. It could be seen as an unofficial fifth slam. The news followed Endeavour announcing in October that it was considering the sale of some events in the IMG portfolio. This includes Madrid and Miami.
Ion Tiriac sold the tournament in 2021 for a fee around £323m but despite that Lopez says they are not looking to sell and that it will remain as it forms the identity of the Spanish people.
“The tournament’s owner has nothing to do with the tournament leaving Madrid,” said Lopez as per a recent interview with Marca.
“The tournament is here until 2030, regardless of who the owners are but if someone wants to buy the tournament, it’s because it’s played in Madrid and because the people of Madrid respond to it.
“The tournament has been around for 20 years and is well-established and the people of Madrid feel it’s theirs.
“Part of the success of this tournament is because it’s played here in Madrid and whoever wants to buy it realizes that.
“All those people who are interested and come here realize that this also works because of the support of Madrid.”
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