Rafa Nadal and Jannik Sinner Share the Court with Real Madrid Stars
On Thursday, Nadal and Sinner showcased their skills at the iconic Bernabeu Stadium, the heart of Real Madrid.
Date: April 23, 2026
Mutua Madrid Open Highlights
A star-studded event featuring Iga Swiatek, Thibaut Courtois, Rafael Nadal, Jude Bellingham, and Jannik Sinner.
By ATP Staff
In a thrilling return to the tennis arena, Rafael Nadal dazzled fans in Madrid alongside World No. 1 Jannik Sinner and stars from Real Madrid. The event marked an exciting collaboration between sports at the prestigious Bernabeu.
Having stepped away from professional tennis in 2024, Nadal teamed up with goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois for a friendly match against Sinner and midfielder Jude Bellingham to celebrate the Mutua Madrid Open. The iconic stadium has been transformed to host a clay court for this year’s ATP Masters 1000 tournament.
As the top seed, Sinner will kick off his campaign on Friday against Benjamin Bonzi, boasting a flawless 3-0 record in their head-to-head encounters.
Nadal’s participation emphasizes his lasting ties to both the tournament and Madrid itself, having secured a remarkable five titles at the Masters 1000 event throughout his celebrated career.
Expressing his gratitude, Nadal shared on Instagram, “Thank you @realmadrid and @mutuamadridopen. It was truly special to enjoy such a unique court at @bernabeu.”
WTA World No. 4, Iga Swiatek, was also in attendance, having recently begun training under Nadal’s former coach at the Rafa Nadal Academy.
Additionally, Jude Bellingham was a spectator at the tournament on Wednesday, witnessing the impressive performance of emerging Spanish talent Rafael Jodar, further solidifying the cross-sport camaraderie.
