Carlos Alcaraz could realise a long-held dream by stepping onto the turf of Real Madrid’s Bernabeu Stadium, after Madrid Open organisers announced plans to install a practice court inside the iconic venue.
The Bernabeu, which has increasingly embraced its role as a multi-purpose arena beyond football, will host a temporary clay practice court for tournament players from April 23-30 – live on Sky Sports Tennis.
The facility will serve as a supplementary training venue during the Madrid Open, a tournament the 22-year-old Alcaraz – a lifelong Real Madrid fan – has won twice, in 2023 and 2024.
While the Caja Magica – south of the city – will remain the tournament’s primary training hub, the Bernabeu set-up in the heart of the city offers players an opportunity to experience tennis in one of sport’s most storied stadiums.
Unlike the public practice sessions at the Caja Magica, however, training at the Bernabeu will be closed to fans.
The Bernabeu’s transformation into a multi-sport venue has gathered pace in recent months.
The stadium itself has a long history of hosting major events, including the 1982 World Cup final and, more recently, in November, it staged Spain’s first official regular-season NFL game, when the Miami Dolphins faced the Washington Commanders, while Taylor Swift performed there in 2024.
Its flexibility has made it a regular host for non-football events in recent years.
“This year’s proposal will undoubtedly raise the bar even higher; initiating a collaboration with one of the best stadiums in the world, the Bernabeu, home of Real Madrid, and will place the Mutua Madrid Open in a unique category that includes only the best,” said tournament chief Gerard Tsobanian.
How it is possible to transform the pitch from grass to clay?
The pitch will be stored underground
It is possible because of Madrid’s pitch is retractable, the central feature of the $1 billion renovation which the club completed in late 2023.
It is divided into six sections of 11.6 metres by 107 metres, which can be stored underground in what is essentially a giant underfloor greenhouse.
Grow lamps and climate controls keep the grass in pristine condition, while allowing for other facilities – like clay tennis courts – to be constructed on top of the concrete base that covers the underfloor storage.
Are Real Madrid playing at home during the Madrid Open?
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Highlights of the La Liga match between Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid
No! Real Madrid’s run of three away games in late April and early May, against Real Betis, Espanyol and Barcelona, makes it possible.
A potential Champions League semi-final first leg against Liverpool or Paris Saint-German, played April 28 or 29, would not be an obstacle either because Madrid would be away for the first leg.
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