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. 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 how to obtain tickets 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 Slam will be broadcast live on Movistar Plus, which will provide extensive coverage to ensure fans do not miss 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.
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