Rafael Nadal has tapped fellow former world number one Andy Murray to serve as captain of a rival team for an upcoming exhibition event celebrating the tenth anniversary of the Rafa Nadal Academy on Mallorca. The milestone competition, dubbed the “Academy Slam,” is scheduled for October 3, 2026, at the academy’s headquarters in Manacor.
The Academy Slam Marks a Decade in Manacor
The upcoming exhibition highlights a decade of growth for Nadal’s tennis facility, which first opened its doors in his hometown of Manacor in 2016. During his active playing career, Nadal watched the facility expand under the guidance of his uncle, Toni Nadal, who managed its sporting direction.
Since that initial launch, the Rafa Nadal Academy has grown into a global network. The organization now operates international locations in Marbella, Kuwait, Mexico, Greece, Hong Kong, the Dominican Republic, and Egypt. The October event serves as a celebration of the flagship campus’s ten-year history, blending competitive exhibition matches with special guests and entertainment.
Murray Returns to Face Nadal’s Roster
For Murray, the trip to Mallorca marks his third visit to the academy. The Scottish player previously traveled to the facility in 2016 for a training session and returned in 2019 to compete in the Rafa Nadal Open. Organizers plan to announce the remaining members of both teams in the coming days.
Nadal announced Murray’s participation through a lighthearted video message shared online. Addressing his long-time rival, Nadal joked about the Briton’s intense training habits, saying, “I know that you have trained a lot, almost like a professional. I cannot train as much as you, but I think I can still be competitive. Maybe you can round up some of your friends, and I can round up some of mine, and we can organize a team competition here at the academy to celebrate the tenth anniversary.”
A Renewed Rivalry on the Court
The exhibition revives a storied head-to-head rivalry from the ATP Tour. Over their professional careers, Nadal and Murray faced each other 24 times in official competition. The Spanish left-hander claimed 17 of those encounters, while Murray secured seven victories.
Their most recent official meeting took place in 2016—the exact year the Mallorca academy opened—at the ATP Masters tournament in Madrid, where Murray emerged victorious. The October team event gives Nadal a chance to test himself against his old rival once more on home soil.
Further details regarding the roster selections, ticket availability, and broadcast schedules for the October 3 event are expected to be released by the academy in the lead-up to the anniversary celebration.
Worth a look
