When the Madrid Open sets up a makeshift practice court inside Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in April 2026, Real Madrid’s home field will be replaced with red clay.
The renowned arena will host private training sessions throughout the joint ATP and WTA event, according to organizers, offering elite players—including Carlos Alcaraz, the top-ranked player in Spain—an extra location to get ready.
The primary venue of the event, the Caja Magica, which hosts matches from April 20 to May 3, will be replicated on the clay surface.
Between April 23 and 30, players can reserve practice times at the Bernabeu; however, no competitive games will be played there, and the sessions will be closed to the public.
The Madrid Open stated, “Bringing a clay court to one of the most iconic venues in the world creates a unique meeting point between the tradition of tennis and the universal appeal of a stage that is constantly evolving to continue surprising with new experiences.”
Real Madrid has no home games planned for that week, therefore the relocation is feasible. If they defeat Bayern Munich, the team may still play in the UEFA Champions League quarterfinals on April 28 or 29.
The Spanish team already knows that the opening leg will take place away from home if they advance to play either Liverpool or Paris Saint-Germain.
