Tennis set to kick-off at Real Madrid's iconic Bernabeu stadium for Madrid Open

Madrid, Spain – In a bold fusion of football royalty and tennis excellence, the Mutua Madrid Open will this year convert Real Madrid’s Santiago Bernabeu into a temporary clay-court sanctuary for the world’s leading players. From 23-30 April the stadium’s retractable grass pitch will be stored beneath the arena floor, replaced by a pristine practice surface that organisers describe as “a unique training environment” for ATP and WTA competitors.

The initiative, confirmed by tournament director Gerard Tsobanian, means Carlos Alcaraz – twice champion at the Caja Magica (2023 and 2024) and a lifelong Madridista – could fulfil a childhood ambition by striking forehands inside the same venue that has staged European Cup finals and, last November, Spain’s first regular-season NFL clash. While matches will continue to be played at the Caja Magica south of the city, the Bernabeu will operate as a supplementary, players-only hub closed to the public.

The transformation is made possible by the Bernabeu’s recent US$1 billion renovation, completed in late 2023. The pitch is divided into six 11.6 m x 107 m sections that glide into an underground greenhouse, where grow-lamps and climate controls maintain the grass. A concrete slab covering the void allows for quick installation of a clay court without jeopardising the playing surface below. Real Madrid’s late-April schedule – three consecutive away fixtures against Real Betis, Espanyol and Barcelona – plus a potential Champions League semi-final first leg played on the road, leaves the stadium free for the eight-day tennis window.

“This year’s proposal will undoubtedly raise the bar even higher,” Tsobanian said. “Initiating a collaboration with one of the best stadiums in the world, the Bernabeu, home of Real Madrid, places the Mutua Madrid Open in a unique category that includes only the best.”

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