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Real Madrid’s Santiago Bernabeu will transform into clay courts for Madrid Open training, offering players a unique prep base just minutes from their hotel.
(Photo Credit: AFP)
In a surprising crossover, the Mutua Madrid Open will see players train inside the iconic Santiago Bernabeu Stadium during this year’s tournament.
According to Spanish outlet Break Pointbetween April 23 and 30, parts of Real Madrid’s home ground will be temporarily transformed into clay tennis courts — offering players a unique training facility just minutes from their hotel.
Why the Bernabeu?
With Real Madrid scheduled to play three consecutive away matches against Real Betis, Espanyol and FC Barcelona, the stadium will be sitting idle after their fixture against Deportivo Alaves around April 21–22.
So, rather than letting the space go unused, the club has opted for an innovative solution: repurposing the venue into a high-performance training hub for elite tennis players.
Main Action Still at Caja Magica
Before anyone gets too excited — no, you won’t see matches played at the Bernabeu.
The tournament itself will continue as usual at the Caja Magica, which remains the official venue for both ATP and WTA matches from April 22 to May 3.
The Bernabeu courts are strictly for training, but they could offer players a quieter, more exclusive alternative to the often-busy practice facilities at Caja Magica.
More Than Just a Gimmick
Following its recent multi-million renovation, the Bernabeu has been repositioned as a multi-purpose venue — capable of hosting everything from NFL games to large-scale sporting events. Concerts, however, remain restricted due to noise regulations.
So, turning it into a temporary tennis complex is both clever and commercially savvy.
March 25, 2026, 6:08 PM IST
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