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Nadal, Sinner join Real Madrid stars Bellingham, Courtois on court
Nadal & Sinner hit on Thursday at the Bernabeu, home of Real Madrid
April 23, 2026
Mutua Madrid Open
Iga Swiatek, Thibaut Courtois, Rafael Nadal, Jude Bellingham and Jannik Sinner at the Bernabeu in Madrid on Thursday.
By ATP Staff
Rafael Nadal returned to a tennis court in striking fashion on Thursday in the Spanish capital, where he featured alongside World No. 1 Jannik Sinner and Real Madrid football stars in a star-studded hit.
Nadal, who retired from professional tennis in 2024, partnered Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois in a friendly session against Sinner and midfielder Jude Bellingham. The appearance formed part of activities linked to the Mutua Madrid Open, with the Bernabeu being used as a temporary practice venue during the ATP Masters 1000 event.
The stadium, home to Real Madrid, has been adapted to host a clay court as part of this year’s event setup. Sinner is the top seed for the tournament and is scheduled to begin his campaign on Friday against Benjamin Bonzi, whom he leads 3-0 in their Lexus ATP Head2Head series.
Nadal’s involvement reflects his ongoing association with the tournament and his connection to Madrid. Over the course of his career, the former No. 1 player in the PIF ATP Rankings won a record five titles at the Masters 1000 event.
“Thank you @realmadrid and @mutuamadridopen,” Nadal wrote in Spanish on Instagram. “It has been very special to enjoy this unique court @bernabeu.”
Iga Swiatek, the WTA World No. 4, was also present at the venue on Thursday. The Pole has recently begun working with Nadal’s former coach and trained at the Rafa Nadal Academy earlier this month.
Bellingham attended the tournament on Wednesday evening to watch rising Spaniard Rafael Jodar secure an opening win. The England international was named La Liga Player of the Season in his first campaign with Real Madrid in 2023/24.
