The Bernabéu has now also become a tennis court It will serve as a training ground for the Madrid Masters 1000
Bernabéu, the stadium of Real Madrid, is being transformed into a tennis venue for the Madrid Masters 1000. Between April 23 and 26, the facility will host training sessions for several ATP and WTA players set to compete in the tournament, scheduled from April 20 to May 3.
Where does the Madrid Masters 1000 take place?
@mutuamadridopen La Caja Mágica no solo tiene tenis! Pronto os enseñaremos lo que no se ve cara al público #tennis #sports #mmopen #DeportesEnTikTok #atp #wta sonido original - #MMOPEN
The Madrid Masters 1000 is officially held at the Caja Mágica, a modern multi-purpose sports complex that has hosted the tournament since 2009. Its defining feature for tennis is the presence of three clay courts, all equipped with retractable roofs. This technical solution ensures matches can proceed smoothly even in the event of bad weather.
Bernabéu as a Training Alternative
The 2026 edition of the tournament features 96 players (men and women), making the management of training spaces particularly challenging. To address this logistical issue, an alternative venue has been set up at the Bernabéu stadium. Here, a clay court has been installed, fully complying with official court dimensions.
According to the BBC, players will be able to use this facility freely for training from April 23 to 26. However, these sessions will not be open to the public. The operation is further facilitated by La Liga schedule, which sees Real Madrid playing their next two league matches away from home. Additionally, as reported by Marca, most tennis players stay in hotels near the Bernabéu during the Madrid tournament, significantly easing logistical arrangements.
Florentino Pérez’s Vision
The transformation of the Bernabéu from a football stadium into a tennis venue represents another success for Florentino Pérez and his ambitious renovation project. Today, the Bernabéu is a state-of-the-art facility, active 365 days a year, regularly hosting Real Madrid matches, concerts, NFL games, and now also the world’s top tennis players. It is therefore not unlikely to see Jannik Sinner training in the same stadium as Kylian Mbappé and Vinícius.
Moreover, the decision carries strong marketing value. The Madrid Masters 1000 takes place during a complex phase of the clay-court season: it follows Monte Carlo, often favored by players, and precedes Rome, the final stop before the Roland Garros. This position in the calendar can lead some players and fans to overlook it, making a solution like this ideal for capturing the necessary attention.