The Mutua Madrid Open returns to the Caja Magica from 21 April to 3 May 2026 for two weeks of elite clay court tennis. As both an ATP Masters 1000 and WTA 1000 event, the tournament is one of the most prestigious stops on the professional tennis calendar, attracting the world’s top players to the Spanish capital for a fortnight of competition across men’s and women’s singles and doubles draws.
What is the Mutua Madrid Open?
The Mutua Madrid Open is a combined ATP Masters 1000 and WTA 1000 tennis tournament held annually in Madrid, Spain. It sits in the top tier of professional tennis events below the Grand Slams, and forms a crucial part of the European clay court season alongside Monte Carlo and Rome.
The tournament features men’s and women’s singles and doubles draws, with 96 players in the men’s singles and 64 in the women’s. Qualifying rounds precede the main draw, with the event running across two weeks. What makes Madrid distinctive among clay court events is its altitude. At 667 metres above sea level, the thinner air causes the ball to travel faster and bounce higher than at sea-level clay venues such as Rome or Monte Carlo. This creates unique playing conditions that tend to favour aggressive, power-based players over traditional clay court specialists, making for some of the most entertaining tennis on the calendar.
When is the Mutua Madrid Open 2026?
The 2026 edition runs from Tuesday 21 April to Sunday 3 May. Qualifying rounds begin on Monday 20 April, with the main draw starting on Tuesday 22 April. Day sessions typically begin at 11:00 CEST, while the popular night sessions start at 20:00 CEST under floodlights. The women’s singles final is scheduled for Saturday 2 May, with the men’s singles final on Sunday 3 May. Doubles finals will be played at 14:00, with singles finals at 17:00 CEST.
Where is the Mutua Madrid Open?
The tournament is held at the Caja Magica (the “Magic Box”), a striking multi-purpose sports complex in the Manzanares Park district of Madrid. Designed by French architect Dominique Perrault, the venue has hosted the Madrid Open since 2009 and features three show courts with retractable roofs.
The centrepiece is the Estadio Manolo Santana, named after the legendary Spanish player, which holds 12,442 spectators. The second court, Estadio Arantxa Sanchez Vicario, seats 3,194, while a third stadium court accommodates 2,730. A major expansion is planned, with construction of a new 8,600-seat arena beginning after the 2026 tournament, set for completion by 2028. The venue is well connected by public transport, with the San Fermin-Orcasitas metro station on Line 3 providing direct access.
Key Contenders
On the men’s side, defending champion Casper Ruud returns after his historic 2025 victory, when he became the first Norwegian to win a Masters 1000 title, defeating Jack Draper 7-5, 3-6, 6-4 in the final. Home favourite Carlos Alcaraz, a two-time Madrid champion (2022, 2023) and crowd favourite, will be among the leading contenders. World number one Jannik Sinner and veteran Novak Djokovic also feature on the entry list, along with two-time champion Alexander Zverev and 2024 winner Andrey Rublev.
Jack Draper, the 2025 finalist, will look to go one better, while Lorenzo Musetti, Alex de Minaur, Taylor Fritz, Ben Shelton, and Daniil Medvedev round out a formidable top-ten contingent.
In the women’s draw, defending champion Aryna Sabalenka is the player to beat. The Belarusian is a three-time Madrid champion (2021, 2023, 2025), having defeated Coco Gauff 6-3, 7-6 in the 2025 final. Iga Swiatek, the 2024 champion, will be looking to reclaim the title, while Gauff, Elena Rybakina, and Jessica Pegula are all expected to feature prominently.
How to Watch
The Mutua Madrid Open enjoys extensive broadcast coverage worldwide. In the United Kingdom and Ireland, Sky Sports Tennis holds exclusive live rights to all ATP and WTA Masters 1000 events as part of a deal running until 2028. Viewers can watch via Sky Sports’ dedicated tennis channel, the Sky Sports app, or through NOW TV for those without a Sky subscription. Multiple simultaneous court streams are available via the red button and Sky Sports app.
In the United States, Tennis Channel provides live coverage of the tournament, available through cable packages and streaming services including Fubo, DIRECTV STREAM, and Sling TV. The Tennis Channel app also offers live match streaming. Tennis TV, the official ATP streaming platform, provides live coverage globally (excluding certain territories) and is available as a standalone subscription.
In Spain, Movistar Plus holds domestic broadcast rights. In Australia, Stan Sport provides coverage, while TSN broadcasts the event in Canada. Eurosport covers the tournament across much of Europe.
History and Records
The Madrid Open began as a men’s indoor hard court event in 2002, when Andre Agassi won the inaugural edition at the age of 32, making him the tournament’s oldest champion. The event replaced the Eurocard Open in Stuttgart as an ATP Masters Series stop. In 2009, the tournament relocated to the newly built Caja Magica, switched to outdoor clay, and added a women’s draw for the first time.
Rafael Nadal holds the record for most men’s singles titles with five (2005, 2010, 2013, 2014, 2017), as well as the most match wins in Madrid with 56. Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer share second place with three titles each. Federer holds a unique distinction as the only man to win the tournament on three different surfaces: hard court (2006), red clay (2009), and the controversial blue clay (2012). Carlos Alcaraz became the youngest champion in tournament history in 2022, aged just 19.
In the women’s draw, Petra Kvitova and Aryna Sabalenka lead with three titles apiece. The 2012 edition, played on blue clay at the insistence of tournament director Ion Tiriac, proved so controversial that player boycott threats forced a return to traditional red clay the following year.
Tickets and Attendance
Tickets for the 2026 Mutua Madrid Open are available through the official tournament website at mutuamadridopen.com, with prices starting from around 24 euros for early-round sessions on outer courts. Ground passes, which grant access to all courts except the Manolo Santana Stadium, typically range from 30 to 50 euros. Reserved seating on the main show courts starts at approximately 120 euros during the first week, rising significantly for semi-final and final sessions, where premium seats can exceed 1,000 euros.
Weekly, weekend, and full-tournament passes are also available, along with platinum hospitality packages for those seeking a premium experience. On Location is the official hospitality and travel package partner. Given the tournament’s popularity, securing tickets for the second week, particularly the finals, well in advance is recommended.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does the Mutua Madrid Open 2026 start?
Qualifying begins on Monday 20 April 2026, with the main draw starting on Tuesday 22 April. The tournament concludes with the men’s singles final on Sunday 3 May.
Where is the Mutua Madrid Open held?
The tournament takes place at the Caja Magica in the Manzanares Park district of Madrid, Spain. The main stadium, Estadio Manolo Santana, holds 12,442 spectators.
How can I watch the Mutua Madrid Open?
In the UK, live coverage is on Sky Sports Tennis. In the US, Tennis Channel broadcasts the event. Tennis TV offers global streaming for ATP matches. Eurosport covers the tournament across much of Europe.
Who won the Mutua Madrid Open in 2025?
Casper Ruud won the men’s singles title, defeating Jack Draper 7-5, 3-6, 6-4 in the final. Aryna Sabalenka won the women’s singles, beating Coco Gauff 6-3, 7-6.