Rafael Nadal returns to practice at Rafa Nadal Academy ahead of October 3 exhibition

Rafael Nadal returned to the practice court at the Rafa Nadal Academy in Manacor on Monday, working with two sparring partners as he prepares for exhibition matches scheduled for October 3. Training footage released on Monday shows the 40-year-old, a 22-time Grand Slam champion, sweating through a session ahead of the event billed as the Rafa Nadal Academy Slam.

Nadal retired from professional tennis in November 2024 and had announced his retirement in October 2024 after a difficult period affected by injuries, saying he had been unable to play without limitations. The session at his academy is not being presented as a resumption of ATP Tour competition.

The latest training clips show Nadal putting himself through his paces on court, a sight described in reports as an encouraging one for supporters who have missed seeing him compete. The footage captured him drilling and moving under real-practice conditions during the Monday session.

The exhibition is named the Rafa Nadal Academy Slam and will form part of celebrations marking the academy's 10th anniversary. Nadal is scheduled to share the court with some of his former rivals and friends, although organisers have not published the complete list of participants.

The event on October 3 will begin at 5 pm local time and will be broadcast live on Movistar Plus. Reports say the appearance will take place in front of spectators at the academy rather than as a return to ATP Tour play.

Nadal finished his professional career with 92 ATP Tour-level titles and 22 Grand Slam trophies, including a record 14 French Open titles, and spent 209 weeks as the world’s No. 1 player. His final competitive appearance came at the 2024 Davis Cup Finals, where Spain were knocked out by the Netherlands in the quarter-finals; he has not played in front of a crowd since that match.

For now, Nadal’s activity is limited to exhibition tennis: he will appear at the Rafa Nadal Academy Slam on October 3 at his academy in Manacor, giving fans another opportunity to see him play and bringing the academy’s 10th-anniversary celebrations into the public schedule.