ATP Tour

Nadal, Murray & co. return to court for 10th anniversary at Rafa Nadal Academy

Rafael Nadal felt the adrenaline of competition coursing through his veins once more on Saturday, when he celebrated the 10th anniversary of his academy with a very special exhibition: the Rafa Nadal Academy Slam.

The former No. 1 player in the PIF ATP Rankings welcomed a host of leading figures from the Tour to the training complex, with his great Lexus ATP Head2Head rival Andy Murray among those joining Nadal on court for an afternoon filled with nostalgia, camaraderie and a shared love of the sport. More than 2,000 spectators attended the celebration.

“To have come this far and built this place from scratch is a source of great satisfaction for us,” Nadal told Movistar+. “An enormous amount of work from so many people has gone into it.

To be able to celebrate the 10th anniversary and be fortunate enough to have all these great champions from the history of our sport with us is, I think, very special. The staff, the children and everyone attending the event are going to enjoy a wonderful day.”

In a relaxed and festive atmosphere, the exhibition brought former rivals together on court. Nadal captained Team Rafa, which featured Carlos Moya, David Ferrer and Richard Gasquet. Opposite them was Team Murray, with the British former World No. 1 joined by Marat Safin, Dominic Thiem and Fabio Fognini.

The format made for plenty of entertaining exchanges between the former Tour stars. The players rotated through different pairings and contested doubles matches.

“Doubles is more dynamic and more fun,” Nadal explained. “This way, nobody had to prepare in any special way. It’s a format everyone can play without any specific preparation.”

Team Rafa d. Team Murray 4-3

[TR] Moya/Gasquet d. [TM] Safin/Fognini 10-9
[TM] Murray/Thiem d. [TR] Nadal/Ferrer 10-9
[TM] Fognini/Thiem d. [TR] Gasquet/Ferrer 10-8
[TR] Nadal/Gasquet d. [TM] Murray/Safin 10-0
[TR] Moya/Ferrer d. [TM] Thiem/Safin 10-8
[TM] Murray/Fognini d. [TR] Nadal/Moya 10-7
[TR] Nadal/Moya d. [TM] Murray/Fognini 7-5

Nadal’s return to the court was one of the afternoon’s standout moments. Nearly two years after his last match, the Spaniard put on his tennis kit once again and enjoyed the chance to compete, showing glimpses of the intensity that defined his career on the ATP Tour.

The crowd welcomed Nadal warmly, while his former rivals and teammates added plenty of humour to the occasion. It was another reminder of the enduring bond between the Spaniard and the players with whom he shared so many of the biggest stages in tennis.

The event also showcased the legacy Nadal has built beyond his playing career. In his homeland, he is the driving force behind a high-performance centre where player development at all levels sits alongside the demands of elite sport.

“Thank you all for the atmosphere today, and thank you, Rafa, for inviting me,” Murray said during the awards ceremony. “You have an incredible place here, all the children are incredibly fortunate to train somewhere like this.

It’s been fantastic to come back, visit the museum, remember moments from your career and everything you’ve achieved. It’s been fantastic to have been part of that journey. Although we were rivals, it’s been special to look back and remember it all. I hope I can return in the future.”

{{player.PlayerFirstName}} {{player.PlayerLastName}}

{{player.PlayerCountryCode}}

{{player.PlayerLastName}}

{{player.PartnerLastName}}

{{player.Record}}

Vs
wins

{{opponent.Record}}

Show H2H Detail

{{opponent.PlayerFirstName}} {{opponent.PlayerLastName}}

{{opponent.PlayerCountryCode}}

{{ opponent.PlayerLastName }}

{{opponent.PartnerLastName}}

• {{player.Ranking}} Rank {{opponent.Ranking}}
• {{player.Age ? player.Age : '-'}} Age {{opponent.Age ? opponent.Age : '-'}}

Nadal joked back: “Thank you for those words, Andy. Perhaps next time we can hold a golf event, so you’ll have a chance. I know you’re practising a lot, quite a bit more than I am, so perhaps the next Nadal Academy Slam can be golf.

“Thank you very much, Fabio, Marat, Andy, David, Carlos and Richard. It’s been very special to share this moment with all of you. Thank you for being part of it and for joining me today.”