Rafael Nadal Returns for Academy Anniversary Exhibition with Dominic Thiem

Rafael Nadal has ruled out a transition to coaching on the ATP Tour in the immediate future, stating that a full-time spot on the professional circuit would only intensify an already relentless travel schedule.

Rafa Nadal Academy Slam Brings Back Former Rivals

The 40-year-old Spanish icon will headline the “Rafa Nadal Academy Slam,” an exhibition event marking the 10th anniversary of the tennis academy he founded on Mallorca in 2016. The tournament features a lineup of former world-class players, including Austria’s Dominic Thiem, who will compete in a team led by Andy Murray alongside Fabio Fognini and former world number one Marat Safin.

Nadal will captain the opposing team, joined by David Ferrer, former coach Carlos Moyá, and Richard Gasquet. The reunion between Nadal and Thiem revives memories of their high-stakes rivalry on clay, which included four meetings at the French Open—two of them in the finals. While Nadal holds a 10-6 head-to-head advantage on the ATP Tour against Thiem, the Austrian was widely recognized as one of the few players capable of pushing the Spaniard to his limits on the red dirt.

Rafa is back! Nadal Returns to the Court for the Academy’s 10th Anniversary

Saturday’s exhibition format, however, shifts the focus from Grand Slam silverware to doubles play, nostalgia, and entertainment. Gates for the anniversary afternoon open at 2:30 p.m. local time, with exhibition matches scheduled to begin at 5:00 p.m. CEST. The sold-out event also features an entertainment lineup including an international artist, with a broadcast provided on Movistar Plus for fans unable to attend in person.

Why Nadal Dismisses a Coaching Future on Tour

Addressing speculation over a potential second act as a professional coach, Nadal emphasized that the lifestyle demands of the tour remain unappealing to him right now. “At the moment, I definitely do not plan to do that,” the 40-year-old said, noting that his schedule has remained virtually non-stop over recent months and that coaching would only amplify that pace.

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Describing the toll of his career, Nadal reflected on the years marked by persistent injuries. “When you wake up every morning with pain, it is incredibly draining physically and mentally,” the Spaniard said. Today, he noted that those physical complaints are “fortunately almost gone,” calling that improvement “probably the most valuable thing of all.”

Next Scheduled Events at the Academy

The exhibition matches at the Rafa Nadal Academy in Manacor take place on Saturday, Oct. 3, beginning at 5:00 p.m. CEST following a 2:30 p.m. venue opening. Further exhibition fixtures or competitive appearances have not been announced by the academy.