And it was Murray, the pre-tournament favourite, who emerged triumphant in the mens event, though he had a stroke of fortune in his semi-final, earning a walkover after prospective opponent Diego Schwartzmans online connection failed.
The Scot beat David Goffin of Belgium 7 6 in the final, though he twice had to serve to stay in the match, and was trailing in the tie-break, before winning the last three points to clinch victory.
For his efforts he earned 45,000 (39, 365), half of which he intends to donate to the NHS, with the other half going to a fund set-up to help out lower ranked players suffering financially because of the suspension of the sport.
Murray later posted a picture on his Instagram account of him posing next to a large bottle of champagne, which he intended to drink to toast his victory.
The world 121 has not played since November due to complications following hip surgery earlier last year, but this was his third triumph in Madrid. He won the event in 2008 when it was played on hard courts, and again five years later when it became a clay court tournament. Sadly for him though, this one will not go in the record books.
Meanwhile Kiki Bertens of the Netherlands successfully defended the title that she won on the clay last year. She beat the now retired Caroline Wozniacki in the semi-finals and Fiona Ferro of France in Thursdays finals. She is now free to return to the jigsaw puzzles she was tackling to stave off boredom at home before she began practising for this event.
It still remains to be seen when all involved can get back on a real court again, with all competitive tennis currently suspended until July at the earliest because of the outbreak.