Madrid Open tennis presented to press

MADRID - The Madrid Mutual Tennis tournament was officially presented to the press this Thursday.

The event, which is one of the most important on the circuit after the four grand slams, will be played on beaten clay, which is painted blue for the event.

The official presentation was made by the Major of Madrid, Ana Botella, along with former Spanish tennis legend, Manolo Santana and top players Venus Williams and Fernando Verdasco.

The event is for both men and women and attracts the top players in the world, such as Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic and Spanish favorite Rafael Nadal while the Williams sisters will both be playing in the women's event.

Indeed 57 of the top 60 men's players and the top 60 women will be at the event.

One of the major features of the Madrid Mutual Open which is in its fourth year, is the use of a spectacular blue colored center court, designed by French architect Dominique-Perrault.

Venus Williams said she thought the blue clay was fashion statement and added that she was very much in favor of bright colors.

Verdasco commented that the players were used to courts changing color in various events and said it should not be a problem for the competitors. He said he considered it to be an advancement in a sport that has to adapt and continue to be modern.

Santana welcomed those present at the event by saying he hoped the event would be successful and continue to grow in popularity in the forthcoming and in future events.

Meanwhile Ana Botella hoped the successful celebration of the event would help to give a positive impulse to Madrid's hopes of being chosen as the host city for the 2020 Olympic Games.

"It is an exceptional chance for Madrid to again show its capacity to organize major sporting events and for Madrid to show its vocation, will and effort to organize the Olympic Games," said Botella.