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Spanish tennis star Rafael Nadal is one of the staunchest supporters of the Madrid 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games Bid, as he made clear at Thursday’s launch of the 12th Mutua Madrid Open, held at the Spanish capital’s Caja Magica (Magic Box). “There’s no city that deserves the Games more than Madrid,” he said.

Joined by the president of the Madrid 2020 Bid and the Spanish Olympic Committee (COE), Alejandro Blanco, the Mayor of Madrid, Ana Botella, and the tournament director, Manolo Santana, Nadal expressed his belief that the tournament, which is being held at the bid’s tennis venue, will help the city achieve its Olympic dream.

“This is the biggest tournament we have in Spain and all the Spanish players are excited about competing here,” added Nadal, who is aiming to win the title for a third time following his victories in 2005 and 2010.

Blanco heaped praise on the Mutua Madrid Open, pointing to the tournament’s many attributes: “Spanish sport is on top of the world, but this tournament is also a benchmark in terms of organisation. In the last ten years no country has organised more events than Spain.”

Also attending the tournament launch on behalf of the men’s event were Spain’s Feliciano Lopez and Fernando Verdasco and Milos Raonic of Canada. Lopez and the Madrid-born Verdasco both said the tournament was very special to them and that the city should be very proud of the Mutua Madrid Open, while Raonic added that he had great memories of Madrid.

Representing the women’s event were reigning champion Serena Williams, her opponent in last year’s final and Victoria Azarenka of Belarus. As well as praising the atmosphere at the tournament, the 2012 finalists said they were both anxious to go the distance again.