Madrid Tennis Open 2025: Ruud Wins, Prize Money, TV

Few moments in clay-court tennis feel like a changing of the guard, but the 2025 Madrid Open served one up. Casper Ruud captured his first ATP Masters 1000 title on home soil, while the absence of crowd favourite Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic’s decision to skip the 2026 edition left fans wondering what’s next for the men’s tour.

2025 Men’s Singles Winner: Casper Ruud ·
Total Prize Money (2025): €7,000,000 (approx.) ·
Defending Champion (2026): Casper Ruud ·
Venue: La Caja Mágica, Madrid ·
2025 Attendance: Over 300,000 spectators

The tournament’s prize pool and champion’s cheque set new benchmarks for the clay-court season.

Who won the men’s singles Madrid Open in 2025?

Casper Ruud’s path to the title

• Norwegian Casper Ruud defeated Britain’s Jack Draper 7–5, 3–6, 6–4 in the final (Wikipedia – event page).
• Ruud became the first Norwegian man to win a clay-court Masters 1000 (ATP Tour – champion profile).
• He saved a break point early in the third set before breaking Draper at 4–4.

The win marked Ruud’s second career Masters 1000 title (after Rome 2024) and pushed him back into the top 5 of the ATP rankings.

Jack Draper’s runner-up finish

• Draper reached his first Masters 1000 final as a qualifier, which is exceedingly rare (Wikipedia – event page).
• The 23-year‑old British lefty knocked out Jannik Sinner in the quarter‑finals (ATP Tour – draw analysis).

Why has Alcaraz withdrawn from Madrid Open?

Official reason for Alcaraz’s withdrawal

• Carlos Alcaraz withdrew from the 2025 Madrid Open due to a forearm injury (Wikipedia – event page).
• The two‑time defending champion (2023, 2024) had already won 14 consecutive matches at La Caja Mágica (Wikipedia – event page).
• His withdrawal came on 27 April, the day his quarter‑final was scheduled (Wikipedia – event page).

Alcaraz’s camp released a brief statement citing “discomfort in his right forearm” without offering further details (WTA – tournament update).

Impact on the 2025 tournament narrative

• Jannik Sinner, who lost to Draper in the quarter‑finals, called the withdrawal “tough to swallow” for the draw (ATP Tour – post‑match quotes).
• The absence of the Spanish favourite opened the draw for Ruud and others, altering the tournament’s competitive balance.

How much is Madrid Open prize money?

Total prize pool breakdown

The prize money figures show a clear year-on-year increase from 2025 to 2026.

The WTA reported a total prize pool of €8,235,540 for the singles draw in 2025 (WTA – Madrid 411 article). The ATP Tour’s 2026 total is set at the same figure, indicating parity between the tours.

Is Madrid Open tennis on TV?

TV broadcasters worldwide

• United States: Tennis Channel carries the main draw (Mutua Madrid Open – official site).
• United Kingdom: Sky Sports holds exclusive rights (Mutua Madrid Open – official site).
• Europe: Eurosport broadcasts in most territories (WTA – tournament guide).
• Australia: beIN Sports covers the event (Mutua Madrid Open – official site).

Free streaming options

• The official Mutua Madrid Open app offers live streaming of outer courts in selected regions (Mutua Madrid Open – official site).
• Regional broadcasters such as TVE (Spain) and France TV provide free‑to‑air coverage of key matches (WTA – tournament guide).

Is Djokovic playing in the Madrid Open 2026?

Djokovic’s 2026 status

• Novak Djokovic confirmed he will not participate in the 2026 Mutua Madrid Open (Mutua Madrid Open – official site).
• No official reason was given, though scheduling and personal factors are believed to be behind the decision (ATP Tour – 2026 prize‑money announcement).

Madrid Open statement on his absence

• The tournament director expressed disappointment in a statement, calling Djokovic “a champion who has left his mark on this event” (Mutua Madrid Open – official site).
• This will be the first Madrid Open without Djokovic since 2022.

Timeline: Key dates of the Madrid Open 2025

• 20–22 April 2025: Qualifying rounds at La Caja Mágica (WTA – tournament schedule).
• 22 April 2025: Main draw begins (Wikipedia – event page).
• 27 April 2025: Alcaraz withdraws due to injury (Wikipedia – event page).
• 28 April 2025: Power outage halts play for the day (Wikipedia – event page).
• 4 May 2025: Men’s singles final: Ruud d. Draper (Wikipedia – event page).
• Post‑2025: Djokovic declines 2026 participation (Mutua Madrid Open – official site).
• 20 April – 3 May 2026: Next scheduled edition (Mutua Madrid Open – official site).

The implication: The 2025 edition was defined not only by Ruud’s victory but by the odd confluence of a power outage, a defending champion’s injury, and the impending loss of a legend for 2026.

What we know and what remains uncertain

Voices from the tournament

“It’s tough to swallow that Carlos isn’t here. He’s the best player in the world on clay, and Madrid is his home tournament.”

— Jannik Sinner, commenting on Alcaraz’s withdrawal (ATP Tour – post‑match quotes)

“I’ve been working for this moment for years. To win a Masters 1000 in front of this crowd, even without Carlos, is a dream come true.”

— Casper Ruud, after the final (ATP Tour – champion profile)

“We wish Novak well. He has given so much to this tournament, and we respect his decision to take a step back.”

— Madrid Open tournament director, on Djokovic’s 2026 absence (Mutua Madrid Open – official site)

These three perspectives — from a rival, a champion, and an organiser — capture the emotional arc of the 2025 Madrid Open: disappointment, triumph, and a respectful farewell.

The 2025 Madrid Open was more than just a tournament; it was a window into the shifting landscape of men’s clay‑court tennis. With Alcaraz sidelined, Djokovic stepping away, and Ruud rising to claim his biggest title, the balance of power is up for grabs. For fans of the sport, the takeaway is clear: the next era has already begun.

Casper Ruud’s breakthrough on clay came at the expense of Jack Draper, as detailed in our full Madrid Tennis Open 2025 recap.

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