The Mutua Madrid Open WTA returns to the Caja Magica from 21 April to 3 May 2026 for the 24th edition of Spain’s premier clay-court tennis tournament. A WTA 1000 event, it sits just below the Grand Slams in prestige and brings together the best players in women’s tennis. Defending champion Aryna Sabalenka, who has won three of the last five titles here, leads a stacked field that includes Iga Swiatek, Coco Gauff, and Elena Rybakina.
What is the Mutua Madrid Open WTA?
The Mutua Madrid Open is a WTA 1000 tournament, the highest tier of women’s professional tennis events outside the four Grand Slams. Played on outdoor clay courts, it forms a key part of the European clay-court swing leading into Roland Garros. The women’s event was added to the Madrid Open in 2009, replacing Berlin as the host city for one of the WTA’s mandatory premier events. It is run as a combined event alongside the ATP Masters 1000 men’s tournament, making it one of the biggest weeks on the tennis calendar. The women’s singles draw features 64 players competing in a knockout format across two weeks.
When is the Mutua Madrid Open WTA 2026?
The 2026 tournament runs from Monday 21 April to Sunday 3 May. Qualifying rounds begin on Sunday 20 April. The main draw starts on Tuesday 22 April, with the women’s semi-finals scheduled for Saturday 2 May and the final on Sunday 3 May. Sessions typically run from midday local time (CEST, UTC+2), with evening sessions starting at around 7pm.
Where is the Mutua Madrid Open?
The tournament is held at the Caja Magica (Magic Box) in the Manzanares Park district of Madrid, Spain. Designed by French architect Dominique Perrault, the venue opened in 2009 and features three courts with individual retractable roofs, allowing play to continue in poor weather. The centre court, the Estadio Manolo Santana, seats approximately 12,400 spectators, making it the largest clay-court stadium in tennis outside Roland Garros. The second court, named after Arantxa Sanchez Vicario, holds around 3,200, with a third court seating 2,700. A notable innovation for 2026 sees the Santiago Bernabeu stadium serving as an official player training facility, with a clay court installed from 23 to 30 April.
Key Contenders
Aryna Sabalenka is the overwhelming favourite and defending champion. The Belarusian has won three of the last five Madrid titles (2021, 2023, 2025), equalling Petra Kvitova’s record. Currently ranked world No.1 with a 23-1 record in 2026 and titles at Indian Wells and Miami, she is in imperious form on all surfaces. Her aggressive baseline game translates superbly to the altitude-affected courts in Madrid, where the ball flies faster through the thinner air.
Elena Rybakina, ranked No.2, possesses the biggest serve in the women’s game and thrives on faster conditions. Iga Swiatek, the 2024 Madrid champion, remains a clay-court force despite dropping to No.4 in the rankings. Coco Gauff, the 2025 Madrid finalist, reached No.3 after a strong start to 2026 and will look to go one better this time. Jasmine Paolini and Mirra Andreeva are among the outside contenders capable of a deep run.
How to Watch
In the United Kingdom, Sky Sports Tennis carries live coverage of the Mutua Madrid Open. The tournament is also available via NOW Sports, with day passes at £11.99 or monthly access at £34.99. In the United States, Tennis Channel broadcasts all matches, accessible through cable packages or streaming services including Sling TV, Fubo, and DirecTV Stream. Tennis TV, the official streaming platform of the WTA and ATP tours, offers worldwide live coverage with a subscription. In Spain, the tournament is broadcast on Movistar Plus. Fans in Australia can watch via beIN Sports, while coverage across Europe is available through Eurosport and its streaming partner Discovery+.
History and Records
The women’s event at the Mutua Madrid Open began in 2009, when Dinara Safina defeated Caroline Wozniacki in the inaugural final. Since then, the tournament has been won by some of the greatest names in women’s tennis, including Serena Williams, Petra Kvitova (a record three titles: 2011, 2015, 2018), Simona Halep, and Iga Swiatek. Sabalenka matched Kvitova’s haul with her third title in 2025. The 2020 edition was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Other notable champions include Kiki Bertens, who won in 2019 without dropping a set, and Ons Jabeur, the 2022 champion and the first Arab player to win a WTA 1000 title.
Tickets and Attendance
Tickets for the 2026 Mutua Madrid Open are available through the official tournament website at mutuamadridopen.com. Prices range from approximately €24 for early-round ground passes to around €181 for centre court seats at the finals. Premium hospitality packages are also available. Individual session tickets and multi-day passes can be purchased, with early rounds offering the best value. The tournament regularly sells out its later stages, so booking in advance for semi-final and final sessions is recommended. Secondary market platforms such as Vivid Seats and SeatPick also list tickets, though prices are typically higher.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does the Mutua Madrid Open WTA 2026 start?
Qualifying begins on Sunday 20 April 2026, with the main draw starting on Tuesday 22 April. The tournament runs until the final on Sunday 3 May.
Where is the Mutua Madrid Open held?
The tournament takes place at the Caja Magica in Madrid, Spain. The centre court is the Estadio Manolo Santana, which seats approximately 12,400 spectators.
How can I watch the Mutua Madrid Open?
In the UK, coverage is on Sky Sports Tennis and NOW Sports. In the US, Tennis Channel carries all matches. Tennis TV offers worldwide streaming with a subscription.
Who won the Mutua Madrid Open WTA in 2025?
Aryna Sabalenka won the 2025 title, defeating Coco Gauff 6-3, 7-6(3) in the final. It was her third Madrid title and 20th career WTA singles title.