Feliciano López: "I would love to see an Alcaraz vs Sinner final in Madrid"

Pedro de Pablos | 30 Mar 2026 | 21.16

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The 2026 Mutua Madrid Open is just around the corner. The clay court season has already begun, and from April 20th to May 3rd, the event considered by many as the fifth Grand Slam will take place. Feliciano López, the tournament director, appeared on 'Radiogaceta de los Deportes en Radio Nacional Española' to discuss the new features of this year, including the possible presence of Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner, and Novak Djokovic.

Last year, Carlos Alcaraz was unable to play due to an injury, while Sinner was still serving his suspension. Moreover, 'Nole' lost in the first round, and in the end, Casper Ruud emerged as the champion. This year, all three are expected to participate, and there will be significant changes such as a training court at the Santiago Bernabéu stadium and the addition of Garbiñe Muguruza as the co-director of the tournament.

Changes in the Mutua Madrid Open since taking over as director in 2018

"Next year, the tournament will celebrate its 25th anniversary, and it has undergone many changes. Tiriac was the driving force, the founder, and owner of this tournament. Initially, it was a men's indoor event at the end of the year, which obviously posed some challenges in moving the tournament forward. Now the event finds itself in a situation where, well, many things have happened to get here. The tournament moved to the Caja Mágica, became a combined men's and women's event with all that entails—Tiriac's dream of creating a combined event resembling a Grand Slam."

We have had to gradually adapt La Caja Mágica to the needs of the tournament. Now it is a draw of 96, which has been the second biggest change... The second biggest change the tournament has had since arriving at La Caja Mágica. We have transitioned to a two-week tournament with all that implies. It was a significant change because, even though La Caja Mágica may seem huge, it's not quite large enough to host a tournament of that magnitude. And now, we have, let's say, the final step, Tiriac's last dream, which is the new stadium, and we can't improve beyond that.

The new stadium, if God willing, will be ready in about 2 years. It depends a bit on how the bureaucracy works, the construction, because it's a complex project... Water needs to be drained from La Caja Mágica in a certain area. Well, it's an important project, but it's the last thing we can do to be as close as possible to a Grand Slam, because we can't grow anymore. That stadium will have around 8,000 spectators."

An oval stadium named after Rafa Nadal?

"For now, that's not planned. The issue of the stadium, the name, and all that is not yet determined. A sponsor could come in to give the stadium naming rights, it could have a player's name... That's something we haven't thought about yet, but well, it would be an honor for us. Imagine being able to have Rafa's name on one of our stadiums. We have Manolo Santana, we have Arantxa, and imagine being able to have Rafa. It would be a privilege for us.

That is a bit our last dream to fulfill, having the new stadium finished which will give us many facilities. We have three stadiums with a roof, which is incredible, only two in the world, Australia and us, but it's true that our stadium for a Masters 1000 tournament is a bit small.

We have 3,500 seats in the Arantxa, and during the first week of a Masters 1000 with the matches that are played, people are queuing outside because there are great matches that can't be held on the central court as there are only five matches per day. So, during many days of the first week, being able to relocate those matches to a court of 8000 seats will give us a different dimension."

Training courts at the Bernabéu

"There has been a little confusion. It's true that the press release we issued was quite specific. It explained very well how it was going to be and what our idea is. This idea comes from our boss, Gerard, with Real Madrid. We have been very fortunate on one hand, due to Real Madrid's calendar and all the facilities that Real Madrid has provided us. That has helped the court to be available for several days because ultimately, everything we need to do to make that happen, if it's not for 6, 7, 8 days, it's not worth it.

It is a challenging project, the track will be set up in less than 24 hours, and it is a task worth doing if the track can be utilized afterwards. It will be for players, typically during the morning hours or early afternoon, and then it will also be used for sponsors, both from Real Madrid and ours, for various activities. The idea is to keep it private for the players; Bernabéu tours will also have to be halted because we do not want the players to be exposed or any issues to arise.

In the end, a player who wants to train at the Bernabéu is better off being able to do so peacefully, maintaining their privacy. There will be an additional court where the players can train during those days, but everything remains the same at the Caja Mágica. Everyone coming to Caja Mágica will be able to enjoy those days, seeing a match on one side and a star training on the other. For a few days, the player who wishes to, of course, will be scheduled so that everyone can, as much as possible, go to the Bernabéu. Because every player wants to go; you can't imagine the flood of requests we've had since it became public that there will be a court at the Bernabéu.

Final Alcaraz vs Sinner

"It would be great. I mean, in the end, watching Sinner and Alcaraz play, it's a treat for any tennis fan. Last year, we were unlucky that Carlitos got injured in Barcelona playing the final against Rune, and Sinner was just finishing his suspension. Sinner started competing right after Madrid, and Rome was his first tournament. We are looking forward to welcoming both of them. Obviously, I would love to see that final in Madrid."

In Madrid, we have seen the best of the best, Novak vs Federer, Rafa vs Novak, Rafa vs Federer, Carlos vs Rafa in that last stage where Djokovic, Carlos... also, a thrilling match of over 3 hours, I remember it perfectly. Djokovic has also expressed his intention to come, and on the women's side, to be fair, the best matches in recent years have been the women's finals, especially those of Swiatek - Sabalenka. They have been thrilling matches that will be remembered in the tournament's history. So, well, on one hand, I hope Sinner and Carlitos can attend, and on the other hand, that in the women's part, we continue to see those thrilling matches we have had lately."

Presence of Djokovic at the Mutua Madrid Open 2026

"He is eager to come to Madrid, they have let me know. Obviously, Djokovic's schedule lately is what it is. He has the ability to play very little and still compete for major titles at almost 40 years old. What I believe is that he wants to come to Madrid, so in the clay court season, it is one of his priorities, obviously after Roland Garros. We need to be very respectful of this because he plays so little and chooses his tournaments so specifically and precisely... We need to be cautious, but if all goes well, we will also have Djokovic in Madrid."

Garbiñe Muguruza's Role as Co-Director

"Yes, Garbiñe is super involved. Moreover, at a moment in her life... She has just become a mother, which is a complicated time for any mother, being able to combine motherhood with anything else in life, and she is super involved. We are very happy about it. Garbiñe, even though for some reason as a player she never quite played well in Madrid, she was very eager to do well, and I believe she always had that itch. She loved the tournament and felt very connected to everything that happened here, and it has been a fantastic idea.

Once again, pioneers. As far as I know, there hasn't been a tournament until now with both a male and female director. In a few days, Garbiñe will be here working, and we are very happy to have her because having a player like her, who knows the WTA world a little more in depth than perhaps I do, is a great advantage for us and an incredible addition."

Wildcard for Paula Badosa

"It's obvious. The idea is for Paula to be able to play in Madrid, obviously. We will do everything possible to help her. I think it's a pity the situation she's experiencing because the issue of injuries has been dragging on a bit. A year and a half without being able to compete somewhat regularly, which is what ultimately gives you a bit of confidence in your body and makes you believe that you won't get injured. When you get into a cycle of injuries so close together, what you need is five, six, seven months of competing. Not necessarily winning, but competing so that your body regains trust that the same thing won't happen again."

I believe she's going to come back, sincerely. She's young, she has the desire, because Paula is a player with full resilience and I believe she will come back. It's a matter of time, it's true that the process is taking a little longer, but I have a lot of faith that Paula will be back on top. I don't know if as the world number two, as she was at one point, but I believe she will return."

New generation of Spaniards excelling: Jódar, Landaluce...

"It's tremendous news. For Madrid tennis, of course, because we are not a globally renowned powerhouse in tennis, but also for Spanish tennis. Being able to see young players who can accompany Carlitos, and Davidovich who has been established there for years in this new stage that Spanish tennis is going through, I believe it's the best news. The other players who are continuing and competing at a professional level are a bit older. I'm talking about names like Munar, Pedro Martínez, Bautista who is already in his 30s, Carreño… I no longer consider them part of the new generation, these players are already part of another generation that, by their own merits, continue to compete at a high level."

That there are two boys so young who can accompany Carlos at a time when Spanish tennis, to be honest, was suffering, is a luxury. In the end, a player, an idol, helps you because, well, it makes young boys believe that they can eventually get there, but what truly nourishes the ecosystem is a large group of players and tennis players who, among themselves, also feed back and help each other to continue competing and to keep emerging players, and that is what we need now in Spanish tennis. That Jódar and Landaluce are now knocking on the door seems to me the best news."

Alcaraz's mental fatigue in Miami

"Well, on one hand, it can happen to any player. In the end, tennis is a routine, monotonous sport, where the same things happen every week. You see the same people, go to the same places, play at the same clubs, same hotels... I understand that a tennis player at certain times for whatever reason, maybe being away from home for a while, having a personal issue, may feel like Carlos felt in Miami. I understand that.

What surprised me is that it happened at the moment it did, where he is experiencing the best moment of his career. Because Carlos in the past year and a half, from my point of view, has been outstanding, especially mentally the change he has made. He was already the best player in the world, fighting with Sinner, one week you win, the next I win, but I think that in a year and a half, up to here, his mental change has been remarkable. Carlos is a much more stable player, mentally much more consistent, with practically no lapses during games. He is a player who in the only aspect where there was a bit more room for improvement, that's where Carlos has improved the most in the last year and a half."

So, I was surprised at the moment because he is living an incredible moment. If you know Carlos a little, it's not so surprising. Carlos is a person who, for better or for worse, is expressive and articulates what he thinks on a competing track, in a private conversation, openly speaking without reservation at a press conference, and saying what's on his mind. I love people like that, who are straightforward and speak their mind. It's true, and I understand that for many people, seeing the world number one shout at his coach, "I want to go home," may be shocking. But if you put it in context and know the protagonist a little, maybe it doesn't seem so strange.

Every day he wakes up to compete, he has the obligation to win because he's the best. Every time Carlos wins something important, the names Rafa, Novak, Federer... come up. That's a very heavy burden, and the incredible thing for me is how well he handles it. His naturalness in facing pressure moments in matches, his courage, his casualness."

Alcaraz and Ferrero's Split and Carlos's Results

"In such a young player, the split with a person who has had so much influence on his career can initially be a bit harder to handle, especially because of not having that person close when things get complicated in a match. But on the other hand, seeing how he has managed it, I've realized he's a phenomenon on all levels, and when people talk about his mental weaknesses, I strongly disagree because a 22-year-old who handles a situation like that, as Carlos has done, speaks of his maturity in the first place and the ability to accept things and the obstacles that may arise in his career path.

In the end, the uncle goes to Australia for two or three, or four days, I don't remember, after ending his professional relationship with Ferrero, who has been the person who has done the most difficult job in the tennis world, which is to take a kid and make him a tennis player, and not just a tennis player, make him the number one in the world and place him there. Suddenly he goes to Australia and turns the page. He would surely feel hurt because in the end they love each other and appreciate each other, but he said, "Okay, I'm not going to continue with Juan Carlos, I have no choice but to move forward." And he went to Australia and showed tremendous maturity.

So, it did surprise me a bit because I publicly stated at the beginning that it seemed too soon to end that relationship because I still believed that their relationship was very close and that Carlos was still very dependent on Ferrero, but then the results proved me wrong. They made me see that I was mistaken, that Carlos had the mental capacity and maturity to overcome that and to continue competing at the highest level and being the best."

What is clear is that with each passing edition, the Mutua Madrid Open surpasses the previous one, and this year will be no exception. After a 2025 with many absences, 2026 may be one of the best tournaments of the year, with Garbiñe as co-director, the Santiago Bernabéu as a training court, and the three biggest male circuit superstars battling each other for the title. Epicness is felt just by telling it.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Feliciano López: "Me encantaría ver en Madrid una final Alcaraz vs Sinner"

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