The eighth edition of the Rafa Nadal Open by Movistar begins

31.08.2026

ARN Publishing House

The Rafa Nadal Open by Movistar 2026 is now underway. The courts of the Rafa Nadal Academy in Manacor are hosting the first matches of the qualifying rounds for this ATP Challenger Tour tournament, which will run until September 6.

Following the start of the qualifying rounds, all eyes now turn to a main draw that will once again bring together established players from the professional circuit and some of the brightest young prospects in international tennis.

Among them will be a strong contingent from the Rafa Nadal Academy, featuring three junior Grand Slam champions: Dani Rincón, Ivan Ivanov, and Ziga Sesko.

One of the tournament’s main protagonists will be Dani Rincón, the defending champion of the Rafa Nadal Open by Movistar. The player from Ávila, who captured the 2021 US Open junior title, returns to the courts where last year he became the first Spanish player and the first Academy-trained athlete to win the title. Rincón will begin his title defense against Estonia’s Daniil Glinka.

Also competing in the draw will be Ivan Ivanov, who arrives in Manacor following an outstanding junior career in which he has established himself as one of the great talents of his generation.

The Academy’s third junior Grand Slam champion will be Ziga Sesko, recent winner of the Wimbledon junior doubles title. The Slovenian player was also one of the stars of the Rafa Nadal Open by Movistar main draw ceremony, held at the Academy before the start of competition. Sesko will make his debut against the tournament’s second seed, France’s Alexandre Muller.

Eight editions of professional tennis in Manacor

Since its inception in 2018, the Rafa Nadal Open by Movistar has featured the participation of names such as Carlos Alcaraz, Andy Murray, Marin Cilic, Fernando Verdasco, and Pablo Andújar, as well as numerous young players who have since gone on to establish themselves among the world’s tennis elite.

Furthermore, across its seven previous editions, no player has repeated as champion, with seven different winners: Bernard Tomic (2018), Emil Ruusuvuori (2019), Lukas Lacko (2021), Luca Nardi (2022), Hamad Medjedovic (2023), Duje Ajduković (2024), and Dani Rincón (2025).

Beyond the competition, the Rafa Nadal Open by Movistar will once again combine tennis and entertainment throughout the week with a program of culinary offerings, music, and leisure activities for children and families. As in previous editions, admission to the tournament is free, upon downloading a ticket through the event’s official website (https://rafanadalopen.com).

In addition, fans who download their ticket will be able to access the newly renovated Rafa Nadal Museum for a special price of €14, completing their day of tennis with a journey through Rafa Nadal’s career and some of the sport’s greatest legends.

The competition will run until Sunday, September 6, when the eighth champion of the Rafa Nadal Open by Movistar will be crowned.