Nadal already knows who will accompany him in his return to competition

Carlos Navarro - 30 Sep 2026 | 14:17
Rafael Nadal Andy Murray Dominic Thiem Rafa Nadal Academy David Ferrer Marat Safin

The Rafa Nadal Academy has revealed all the names that will accompany the Spaniard in the most special event of the weekend, with some pleasant surprises.

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This will be Nadal's team.

The anticipation for the return to competition of Rafael Nadal is growing by leaps and bounds. There isn't a day when we don't see a new video of the Mallorca native training at full capacity at home: with each image, the adrenaline takes hold of the audience, especially those who are positively surprised by the incredible physical condition of Rafa Nadal in every training session. The date of the challenge is approaching: we are just a few days away from seeing Nadal compete again... and we already know a fundamental part of this celebration: who he will face on the court.

We are talking about retired players, yes, but from a group that has connections all over with Rafa himself and promises to create a spectacular atmosphere. Significant rivals, tour companions over several years, and even former coaches or captains: none of them want to miss the event that will kick off the celebrations for the tenth anniversary of the Rafa Nadal Academy, a special occasion that has brought Rafa himself out of retirement and will allow us to enjoy an impressive afternoon of tennis.

These are the teams for Rafa Nadal's return to tennis

The matches will begin at 5:00 PM next Saturday, and all will be doubles, according to the organizers. We still do not know the exact format, but we already have all the contenders and how they will be organized: Rafael Nadal will be the captain of one team, composed of four players, and Andy Murray will lead the rival team, with another four high-caliber assistants.

The Mallorca team will have as guests people who have been closely tied to his sports career. The most notable is Carlos Moyá, who will once again don his tennis gear to accompany his former pupil: he was the man who transformed Rafa's game from the sidelines in the final stretch of his career, guiding him to achieve his latest major successes and whom he looked up to while growing up on the island. David Ferrer will also be part of the team, who was by his side during his farewell at the Davis Cup in Málaga and one of his biggest rivals over the first two decades of this century. The final member will be Richard Gasquet, a generational companion of the Mallorcan and present in countless battles around the globe alongside Rafa.

On the other side of the net, Andy Murray can be very proud of the squad he has formed. One name stands out, perhaps: Dominic Thiem. The Austrian, who was sidelined prematurely from the circuit due to injuries, will delight us once again with his strength and incredible one-handed backhand, just as he did in numerous battles against Nadal that earned him the nickname 'Prince of Clay'. Marat Safin will also be present, a delightful surprise since he is perhaps the participant who has spent the least time on the court with Rafa. Lastly, the newest addition is Fabio Fognini, a delightful touch of magic to the event who has had all kinds of moments with the Mallorcan, from clashes and rivalries to epic battles with beautiful final hugs on the court.

In short, an enviable lineup and the opportunity to see genuine giants of our sport in action again. Nadal will be the main attraction, but the players accompanying him elevate the category of this event to very promising heights. Will we see Rafa battling Andy from the back of the court like in the old days? Will we gather on the same tennis court names from such different generations as Nadal, Thiem, Safin, or Moyá? The answer will come this Saturday.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Nadal ya conoce quiénes le acompañarán en su regreso a la competición