Albert Ramos-Vinolas makes a celebrated return to ATP World Tour Masters 1000 action on home soil at the Mutua Madrid Open, three weeks after a dream run to the final at the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters.
In Monte-Carlo, the 29 year old posted consecutive wins over a trio of Top 20 players – No. 1 Andy Murray, No. 8 Marin Cilic and No. 17 Lucas Pouille – before finishing runner-up to countryman Rafael Nadal. However, ask the Barcelona native about his biggest Masters 1000 victory, and there’s one result that tops even those.
Ramos-Vinolas looks back on that memorable second-round win over Roger Federer at the 2015 Shanghai Rolex Masters and also shares what makes playing in Madrid so special.
Which Masters 1000 host city is your favourite and why?
I think that my favourite is Monte-Carlo. I like also Madrid because it’s in Spain, but my favourite is Monte-Carlo. I think the place is amazing. The hotel, the club, it’s pretty nice, and I like it a lot. I was lucky that I played the best tournament of my career in the Masters 1000 I like most, so it’s great for me.
What’s your favourite thing about the Mutua Madrid Open?
For us, to play here in Madrid with this amazing crowd, it’s very important. I feel that everybody is going with me when I play here and that’s great because we have this [support] in Barcelona also and here. It’s a big event, the courts are great, the atmosphere is perfect, the facilities for the players are very good also. This one is on the same level as Monte-Carlo for me.
Which Masters 1000 would you most like to win?
This one (Mutua Madrid Open) will be amazing. Monte-Carlo also. I think if I can win one, I don’t mind which one, but if I can choose, it’d be this one or Monte-Carlo.
What do you consider to be your best win at a Masters 1000?
I have to choose between Murray (in Monte-Carlo) and Federer (in the second round of the 2015 Shanghai Rolex Masters). Maybe Federer. I beat him on hard court, which is more difficult for me. I think that was the best one. I felt good because it was maybe the first good victory and it was unexpected. To beat Roger Federer, he’s the best of the history for the moment, so it was a very good experience.
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What is the toughest match you’ve played at a Masters 1000?
Let me think a little bit. I won some matches with match points for the other [player]; in Indian Wells two times in a row – it was against Jesse Levine and Richard Gasquet. It was my first Indian Wells (in 2012). I was a little bit sick in the beginning of the week, so I think it was a very good tournament for me.
What’s the greatest match you’ve seen at a Masters 1000?
Maybe a final in Rome, with (Guillermo) Coria against Nadal (in 2005). I remember it was a very close match, five sets, and it was a very good match.
Which Masters 1000 tournament has the best fans?
Madrid, for sure.
What makes the Masters 1000 tournaments so special?
It’s mandatory, so that means it’s very important to play good at these tournaments. There are a lot of (Emirates ATP Rankings) points, and the players are always the best players because everyone has to play. There are nine, so there are very good tournaments and if you have a chance to play [well] at some of them, then you see it in the Rankings.