Madrid is the host city of one of the world’s most prestigious tennis tournaments – the Mutua Madrid Open, which takes place at the beginning of May at Caja Magica. The tournament consistently draws top players from around the globe, and sees both men and women battle it out on clay courts…but fun fact, that has only been the case since 2009! Before that, the tournament was hosted on a hard-surface.
Beyond professional tennis events, there are plenty of impressive clubs, parks and facilities for recreational tennis play in the Spanish capital. One of the main contributing factors to madrileños and their love of the game is down to the impressive tennis programmes taught on many schools’ physical education curriculum.
Anyone immersed in the tennis scene in Madrid may have come across the name Francisco Clavet, or ‘Pato’ to most. Pato is the All Court Tennis Club’s Madrid Ambassador, a former professional player himself with eight singles titles under his belt and a career-high ranking of No.18. Pato just recently deputy directed the Davis Cup for the second year in a row. We take his world as gospel and so do many of our members, so here goes Patos’s recommendation for the top clubs in the city.
Chamartin Tennis Club
Chamartin Tennis Club has a long and illustrious history, founded in 1966 Chamartin, is known for its impressive roster of facilities, that is: 23 tennis courts, eight covered clay courts, eight outdoor clay courts and seven outdoor hard surface courts, all with the availability of artificial light.
The club also has nine Padel courts, an indoor heated pool and a fully equipped gym. Another impressive facility is the club’s offering of social rooms where members can play cards or billiards, enjoy matches, read, network or even study.
And for junior members, there is a special hangout area to play table tennis, board games, do homework or even part-take in the regular children’s workshops run by the club.
Chamartin also houses a restaurant, pro shop and physiotherapy studio.
Club de Campo
Club de Campo is widely regarded as the most impressive sports and leisure clubs in Madrid, perhaps even in Spain. Sprawling across 200 hectares of land, the club sits just on the city’s outskirts. Membership is said to be in excess of 10,000 people at present, with those members enjoying access to a full 18-hole golf course, 34 tennis courts, Padel courts, horse riding, polo, hockey and squash, not to mention the Olympic-sized swimming pool with retractable roof that can be enjoyed by members year-round.
Aside from the sports facilities, the club grounds are beautiful and well-maintained, making it a picturesque spot to relax or to take the kids over the weekend for a sure-bet on entertainment.
The club has also hosted several Davis Cup and Federation Cup qualifiers, the Spanish Grand Prix and other international tournaments, and is currently the practice area for the Mutua Madrid Open.
RACE Sports Complex
RACE is a pretty awesome spot for tennis lovers and sports lovers alike. And, if you haven’t noticed a trend here already, the Madrid sports clubs know how to do it. It’s on rare occasion that you encounter the best of the city’s tennis and don’t find yourself with an array of alternative sporting options all under the same roof.
RACE club was founded back in 1945 by a group of British expats who were looking to create a space where they could play tennis together and over the years, it has evolved into one of the most prestigious tennis clubs in Spain.
Members of RACE have access to 25 tennis courts, with 17 of them being astro-turf, four hard courts, and four indoor shale courts. And, yep you guessed it, when not practicing their serve or acing their backhand, members can avail of an impressive 18 Padel courts, an aquatic complex with two heated swimming pools, one Olympic swimming pool and a spa. No fear of boredom here…
La Moraleja
La Moraleja is an absolute gem for tennis enthusiasts, with 23 clay courts, seven Padel courts and two indoor hard courts. Right in the heart of the Alcobendaz community of northern Madrid, the club has a vibrant neighbourhood atmosphere, making it a popular destination for families and players of all skill levels.
Besides playing tennis, there are plenty of other amenities to enjoy here like the gym, swimming pool and restaurant which serves up a delicious menu of Spanish cuisine. And if that wasn’t enough to convince you, the beautiful countryside surroundings make it feel like you’ve successfully escaped the hustle and bustle of the city, even if you are only a short-drive from town!
Dreaming up a Madrid tennis trip yet? Let us make your plans a little easier. Get in touch via the button below and we would be happy to help pair you up with a local hitting partner. We have a host of professional ATP and WTA players on our books that regularly host hitting sessions with our members.
In the meantime, make sure you are signed up to our complimentary membership before our app launches this summer!
