Rafa Nadal Academy

Tennis school in Mallorca, Spain

39°33′36″N 3°12′48″E / 39.5601°N 3.2133°E / 39.5601; 3.2133Websiterafanadalacademy.com

The Rafa Nadal Academy by Movistar (RNA) is a tennis training center on the island of Mallorca, Spain. It was founded in 2016 by tennis great Rafael Nadal and located in his hometown of Manacor. The inaugural director is Toni Nadal, Rafa's uncle and longtime coach.

History and facilities

Nadal founded the Rafa Nadal Foundation in 2008 and opened his first tennis school, the Nadal Educational Tennis School, in the Anantapur Sports Village in India in 2010.[1][2][3]

The Rafa Nadal Academy in Manacor broke ground in November 2014.[4][5] Operations began in June 2016 and an opening ceremony was held on 19 October 2016.[6] At its opening, the academy was led by Toni Nadal (who stepped away from coaching his nephew the following year)[7] and Nadal's longtime agent Carlos Costa.[8] Nadal's new coach, former world No. 1 Carlos Moyá, was the technical director.[9]

The campus in Manacor has 23 hard courts (19 outdoor, 4 indoor), 20 clay courts (13 outdoor, 7 semi-indoor), 12 padel courts (6 outdoor, 6 indoor), two squash courts, a football pitch, and two swimming pools (outdoor and indoor).[10] There are also a sports medicine facility and an international school, the Rafa Nadal International School, for 10- to 18-year-olds.[1][6]

Among the tournaments held on the site is the Rafa Nadal Open on the ATP Challenger Tour.[1]

Notable people

Coaches

Alumni

References

  1. ^ a b c Livaudais, Stephanie (18 May 2022). "The King's Empire: Rafael Nadal's ambition extends well beyond the terre battue". Tennis.com. Retrieved 6 July 2023.
  2. ^ Pradhan, Snehal (22 September 2016). "Deep in the Andhra desert, Rafael Nadal has created an oasis of inspiration". Scroll.in. Retrieved 8 July 2023.
  3. ^ "Nadal inaugurates his tennis school". The Times of India. 17 October 2010. Retrieved 8 July 2023.
  4. ^ "Nadal ready to train again for 'fascinating' 2015". Gulf Times. 25 November 2014. Retrieved 8 July 2023.
  5. ^ "The Rafa Nadal Academy by Movistar Consolidates Its Growth With the Expansion of Its Facilities". Rafa Nadal Academy. Retrieved 8 July 2023.
  6. ^ a b "Nadal Officially Opens Academy In Manacor". Association of Tennis Professionals. 19 October 2016. Retrieved 5 July 2023.
  7. ^ Rossingh, Danielle (2 May 2017). "Rafael and Toni Nadal to end tennis' most successful partnership". CNN. Retrieved 6 July 2023.
  8. ^ Morley, Gary (2 November 2016). "Rafael Nadal: 'Humble gladiator' to teach the secrets of his tennis success". CNN. Retrieved 6 July 2023.
  9. ^ Mitchell, Kevin (17 December 2016). "Rafael Nadal adds former world No1 Carlos Moya to coaching team". The Guardian. Retrieved 6 July 2023.
  10. ^ "Sports Facilities". Rafa Nadal Academy. Retrieved 5 July 2023.
  11. ^ a b c d e f "Technical Staff". Rafa Nadal Academy. Archived from the original on 1 June 2023.
  12. ^ "Technical Staff". Rafa Nadal Academy. Archived from the original on 4 December 2019.
  13. ^ Futterman, Matthew (10 February 2021). "The 'Next Rafa': Nadal's Heir Apparent Is 17 and Playing in the Australian Open". The New York Times. Retrieved 5 July 2023.
  14. ^ Dioquino, Delfin (15 June 2023). "Alex Eala graduates from Rafa Nadal Academy". Rappler. Retrieved 5 July 2023.
  15. ^ "Martín Landaluce, jugador de la academia de Nadal: "Entrené con él y pensaba que podía ir a Roland-Garros" [Martín Landaluce, player from the Nadal Academy: "I trained with him and I thought I could go to Roland-Garros] (in Spanish). Eurosport. 16 June 2023. Retrieved 5 July 2023.
  16. ^ Urdiola, Jesús (2 May 2023). "Jaume Munar, el alumno de Rafa Nadal que triunfa en el Mutua Madrid Open" [Jaume Munar, the Rafa Nadal student who wins at the Mutua Madrid Open]. ElDebate.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 5 July 2023.
  17. ^ Kumar, Namit (5 June 2022). "Casper Ruud: The former Rafa Nadal Academy trainee with a sledgehammer forehand". The Indian Express. Retrieved 5 July 2023.
  18. ^ Thompson, Grant (2 September 2022). "Jordan's Shelbayh Makes ATP Challenger Tour History At Rafa Nadal Open". Association of Tennis Professionals. Retrieved 5 July 2023.
  19. ^ "Tennis. Alina Korneeva, 16, spends pre-season at the Nadal Academy in Mallorca" (in Russian). 7 December 2023. Retrieved 8 January 2024.

External links

  • Official website