Real Madrid set to transform Santiago Bernabeu from football fortress into tennis arena for Madrid Open spectacle| Football News
Real Madrid’s iconic Santiago Bernabéu Stadium is set for a temporary transformation, as the football venue will double up as a hub of practice courts for the upcoming Madrid Open. The clay-court event, an ATP Masters 1000 and WTA 1000 tournament, is scheduled to begin on April 22. According to a report in The New York Times, the Bernabéu will serve as a training venue for players during the tournament. The decision is largely driven by the stadium’s close proximity to the players’ hotel, making it a convenient option for tennis stars. It also aligns well with Real Madrid’s schedule, as the club will be away from home for much of that period. The transformation is made possible by the stadium’s state-of-the-art retractable pitch, a standout feature of its $1 billion renovation completed in 2023. The system allows the playing surface to be divided into six sections and stored underground in a controlled environment. While the grass is preserved below, the surface above can be repurposed, in this case into clay practice courts for the …
