Rafael Nadal reacts to tennis courts at Santiago Bernabeu

Jude Bellingham, Thibaut Courtois and Jannik Sinner hit the courts with Rafael Nadal as part of a Madrid Open showcase.

The session took place inside a football stadium — an unusual setting for tennis. The event was held at the Santiago Bernabeu, which finished its extensive renovations in 2024. Its pitch can now be retracted to allow for different types of events.

This feature is what made it possible for the Madrid Open to bring tennis right into the heart of where Bellingham and Courtois normally play.

With Rafa being a lifelong fan of Real Madrid, it’s safe to say he wouldn’t have dreamed up such an event like this even five years ago, but it’s no surprise that he welcomed it.

Rafael Nadal gives his thoughts on the Santiago Bernabeu tennis courts after hitting with Jannik Sinner

After finishing a session with world number one Jannik Sinner, along with Bellingham and Courtois, Nadal spoke to Eurosport about the event. He kept it brief, describing it as “spectacular.”

He continued: “Not much more you can ask for. Also when this unique stadium was built it was made for things like that to happen. Being able to play tennis in this place is something unique and will go down in history.

It’s a venue that left an impression on me – a special place in sport.

Nadal has been spending time coaching Iga Swiatek lately, and according to her, he’s even busier now than during his playing days.

Madrid Open makes its mark on the Santiago Bernabeu

While the Madrid Open has never needed a stadium as large as the 83,000-seat Bernabeu, its decision to utilise it in 2026 has raised some eyebrows.

While there is an obvious benefit in terms of space and court availability, the move seems to be more about showcasing what both the stadium and city can offer.

The Madrid Open press release noted: “The Mutua Madrid Open’s arrival at the Bernabeu reaffirms Madrid’s capacity to host innovative initiatives with global reach, bringing together two great symbols of the city.”

The release continued: “The presence of a clay court in the Bernabeu not only meets an operational need for players, who will have a new training space fully integrated into the tournament dynamic, but also projects a powerful image of Madrid as a capital capable of reinventing its major sporting venues and connecting them with one another.”

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