Almost two years ago, Rafael Nadal said goodbye to professional tennis. Now he will step on court again, and this time at home. On 3 October 2026 in Manacor, Mallorca, the Rafa Nadal Academy Slam will take place, an exhibition evening to celebrate the 10th anniversary of his academy. The team captains will be Nadal himself and Andy Murray. On 29 September, Spain’s AS published the schedule and format for the evening, and the same day the academy announced the final participants. The lineups are complete.

The academy stresses that the Rafa Nadal Academy Slam will be Nadal’s first public appearance on court in front of spectators since his farewell event, the 2024 Davis Cup finals in Malaga. Local outlet Digital Manacor announced a “very special day” and called the comeback the “most anticipated”.

An invitation for Murray

The academy first confirmed Andy Murray as a participant. In the announcement on 23 September, Nadal made a playful challenge to the Briton. TNT Sports later quoted the line.

“I know that you train a lot, almost like a professional. I can’t train as much as you, but I think I can still be competitive,” - Rafael Nadal, speaking to Andy Murray (Rafa Nadal Academy)api.tennis

In the same message, Nadal described the idea behind the evening: each captain brings his friends, and the teams compete for the anniversary.

“Maybe you’ll bring some of your friends, and I’ll bring mine, and we’ll have a team competition here at the academy to celebrate the 10th anniversary,” - Rafael Nadal (Rafa Nadal Academy)api.tennis

The captains and their teams

The friends were found quickly. On 24 September, the academy announced that Richard Gasquet would play for Team Rafa. The following day, Dominic Thiem joined Team Murray, Marat Safin was added on 27 September, and on 28 September Fabio Fognini became the fourth member of Murray’s team. Europa Press also reported that the Briton’s lineup was complete. Finally, on 29 September, David Ferrer and Carlos Moya were announced, completing Team Rafa.

In the end, Team Rafa consists of Rafael Nadal, Richard Gasquet, David Ferrer and Carlos Moya. Team Murray features Andy Murray, Dominic Thiem, Marat Safin and Fabio Fognini. AS also noted another angle to the story: the evening could become a “reunion” of two members of the “Big Four” and a chance to replay their last official match, which took place in Madrid in 2016.

How the evening will work

The teams will play a series of doubles matches. According to AS, these will be short matches decided by super tie-breaks. The gates to the complex will open at 14:30. From 16:00, exhibition activities, challenges and surprises are scheduled on court. The main match event is listed by the 10 Years website to begin at 16:30, while Movistar+’s schedule includes four matches: at 17:00, 18:00, 19:30 and 21:00 CEST. The live broadcast will be shown by Movistar Plus+ on Movistar Deportes 2.

The evening will not be limited to tennis. A food truck area will be set up for fans on the academy grounds, and the evening programme will begin at 19:30 and run until around midnight. The organizers also promise a “surprise live performance,” the details of which have not been revealed. The central court’s capacity is limited. The event page states “Tickets sold out,” and entry is only possible with named e-tickets and the ID document specified during registration.

Ten years in Manacor

The anniversary year in Manacor has been a busy one. In May, Nadal’s museum was relaunched under the name Inside the Legend. In June, as ATP Tour reported, Nadal led the graduation ceremony for the 10th class of the Rafa Nadal School, with Ana Ivanovic as a guest. In the summer, the Nadal Foundation’s free travelling exhibition “Education and Sport,” dedicated to the 10th anniversary of the programme of the same name in the foundation’s centres, was on display at the academy.

Nadal without a racket

Nadal announced his retirement on 10 October 2024, and in November of that year he played his final tournament, the Davis Cup finals in Malaga. Over his career, he won 22 Grand Slam titles and 92 ATP singles titles. In Malaga, he explained that it was not about being tired of tennis: his body had reached the point where it no longer wanted to continue, and he had to accept that situation. That was how he put it, according to the official Roland-Garros website.

What they say

His current exhibition partners spoke warmly about Nadal back in Malaga. Murray recorded a video message, while David Ferrer, then captain of Spain, said at the ceremony: “You will be remembered forever.” Two years later, both will travel to Manacor for his anniversary evening, only this time in different teams.

“The passion and intensity with which you played is what, I think, all tennis players strive for... Watching you was incredible,” - Andy Murray, video message at Nadal’s farewell (Roland-Garros)api.tennis

TNT Sports used Nadal’s joking line, “I think I can still be competitive,” as its headline and reminded readers that Murray has already been to the academy. In previewing the upcoming evening, AS focused on the meeting of two members of the “Big Four,” while Digital Manacor called it the “most anticipated” return.

What is known now

Both team lineups are set, tickets are sold out, and the broadcast is confirmed. The specific pairings and order of matches have not yet been announced by the organizers. Updates are expected to be published on the event’s official channels and on the 10 Years page.