By Richard Pagliaro | Wednesday, September 16, 2026
Photo credit: Clive Brunskill/Getty
The Grand Slam season is over, but a major tennis moment is coming.
Get ready for Rafa Time.
Former world No. 1 Rafael Nadal will return to action on Saturday, October 3rd at 4:30 p.m. local time with a very special afternoon of tennis.
The King of Clay will take part in a series of exhibition matches alongside some of the biggest names in the sport as part of the 10th anniversary celebration of the Rafa Nadal Academy in his native Manacor.
The 22-time Grand Slam champion will share the court with some of the rivals and friends who played against and alongside him throughout his career.
Rafa’s return promises to be a particularly emotional occasion.
It marks the first time Rafa Nadal will play in front of a crowd since retiring from professional tennis in November 2024, at the Davis Cup Finals in Malaga after falling to Botic van de Zandschulp in his final match.
The participating players and details on ticket information will be announced in the coming days, the Rafa Nadal Academy announced today. Tickets will be limited due to the capacity of the Academy’s Centre Court.
The Rafa Nadal Academy Slam will mark the start of the Rafa Nadal Academy’s 10th Anniversary celebrations, providing an opportunity to look back “on the evolution of a project that was founded in Manacor in 2016 and built on the methodology, experience and values that have defined Rafa Nadal’s career,” the Rafa Nadal Academy announced today.
The Rafa Nadal Academy Slam will be broadcast live on Movistar Plus, which will provide extensive coverage to ensure fans can follow Rafa Nadal’s return to the court
Over the past decade, the Rafa Nadal Academy’s international expansion has been one of the project’s main areas of growth, and it now has eight centers around the world: Manacor, Costa Mujeres, Greece, Kuwait, Hong Kong, Marbella, Egypt and Punta Cana.
Prior to his recent Hall of Fame induction, Roger Federer told the media he would be open to working with juniors in the future either at the Swiss Tennis Academy or at the Rafa Nadal Academy. Federer has said in the past he’d like to play future exhibitions with Nadal and Big 4 rivals in the future.
I cannot wait to see Rafa play again! Tennis will welcome the return of Nadal and Federer.
I love this and have marked the dates so I can watch Rafa and Roger play tennis together at the academy. I would love to see them play in real life but cannot afford to be there as always I am a lower class person and live on planned budget. Sorry for taking up your time it would be so great to see my two favourite tennis champs play in life for once and for all but I will watch if I can get that television station. Thank you for reading this from a true fan forever. Andrea Quenneville from Canada. Have a great time my Champion Tennis Men. Rafa and Roger.
Can’t wait! Hope it is televised in the US!
O please get this up on the tennis channel or Amazon prime for USA Rafa fans. ESPN etc.
It will be a pleasurable moment for me and all those tennis loving fans to enjoy the matches if Roger and Rafa play against each other, who have been the greatest rival of all time in tennis history despite being good friends
YEA!!!!!!!!!!
I would love to see Rafa play.. What channel is Movie Star Plus please?? Will this event be on a local channel where everyone can
see the match please?? I have comcast.. I hope I receive a response in reference to the channel..
I have been taking my granddaughter to the US Open every year since she was 11 years old she is now 30. We have seen Roger and Rafa play many times and have been sad since they retired. We are so excited that we might have the opportunity to see them again. Please do the best to have it broadcast on ESPN or a channel that we will be able to get in the USA. Thank you
We all must see the fabulous Rafa play! Most of us cannot go to Majorca to see him
Play again! He is one of my idols, as a person, family man, all around good person! Please let us see it in the U.S. Don’t deprive us of his greatness!🎾👟😎💕
I have seen Rafa 5 times in Netflix! I am so glad, as a teacher & mother, that Rafa exceeds all of our expectations! He is truly great, not because he is a brilliant tennis star, but his work ethic, love of family, maturity on court & off, his re”love for his family & all who play him! My lasting great moment of Rafael was when he hugged Federer when he lost! Priceless class & manners! It was so adorable, admirable, & so Rafa! Real, humble, kind to others, love of family & friends, down to earth! A great guy! Not many great guys around, but he is truly great! His parents must be so,so proud!
I hope my son, who is Rafa’s age has all those qualities, I would be a very proud mom!