Everything You Need to Know About the Rafa Nadal Academy Slam
It's late, and the tenth anniversary of the Rafa Nadal Academy is being celebrated in Manacor, where several legends of professional tennis will join Rafa himself to play several exhibition matches. Here’s everything you need to know.
October 3, 2026. It may seem like just another day, but it is not. Today is the day when Rafa Nadal picks up a racket again. And although it is not for an official match and there is no ATP title at stake, the occasion is quite special. This afternoon, the Rafa Nadal Academy in Manacor is dressed to celebrate its tenth anniversary with the Rafa Nadal Academy Slam, an exhibition that will bring together eight major names from recent tennis history. And among them, Rafa himself.
The event marks Nadal's return to competition —even if in an exhibition format— after his retirement from professional tennis in November 2024, precisely after the Davis Cup Finals in Malaga, an experience better left unremembered. This time he will do it at home and surrounded by some of his great friends, rivals, and travel companions.
Nadal vs. Murray, with a luxury lineup
The format is simple and designed more for enjoyment than to complicate life with regulations. There will be four doubles matches played in a supertiebreak format within a team competition. On Team Rafa will be Nadal himself, Carlos Moyà, David Ferrer, and Richard Gasquet. Opposite, Team Murray, led by Andy Murray and accompanied by Dominic Thiem, Marat Safin and Fabio Fognini. A cast that brings together several generations of champions on the same court and, most importantly, promises many intertwined stories.
The day will start a bit before the matches, as the doors will open at 14:30 in the afternoon, while from 16:00 the exhibitions, challenges, and various activities at the Academy will kick off. The main event will begin around 16:30, with scheduled matches following throughout the afternoon. The idea is for this to be much more than just sitting and watching a doubles match. There will be entertainment, guests, and activities around the court, taking advantage of the celebration of a decade of the Academy's existence.
Where to watch the Rafa Nadal Academy Slam
For those who are not in Manacor, don’t worry, there will be coverage on television. Movistar Plus will offer the event exclusively in Spain with special coverage from the Rafa Nadal Academy. Here, the most interesting part will not be who wins, as the result will be almost anecdotal. What will truly be special is seeing Nadal compete again, even in a much more relaxed format, and do so alongside players who are part of his own story. Today we celebrate the mark that Rafa left on all his companions and also on all of us.
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