The Rafa Nadal Academy by Movistar opens its first pickleball court for the Mediterranean Ope

Maribel Nadal, Anabel Medina and Tomeu Salvá took part in an exhibition with elite players for the inauguration of the first pickleball court on the Balearic Islands, at the Rafa Nadal Academy by Movistar.

 

Manacor, 17 November, 2023.

 

The Rafa Nadal Academy by Movistar and the entities Repueblo & Reimpulso held an event in which the Academy’s first pickleball court was opened, and where the first edition of the RSM Mediterranean Open-Mallorca Series was officially presented. The tournament takes place from 8 - 10 December in Manacor.

 

In the match, Maribel Nadal (the Academy’s Commercial & Marketing Director) and professional player Carlos Pérez took on Tomeu Salvá (the Academy’s Head Coach) and Taiwanese player Pei-Kao. The teams were captained by Anabel Medina, an Olympic medallist and head of women’s tennis at the Academy and Luis de Cristóbal, the Director of the Mediterranean Open, respectively.

 

After the match, a clinic was held in which 12 tennis players from the Rafa Nadal Academy by Movistar had the chance to familiarise themselves with the rules and techniques of pickleball at the hands of Pei-Kao and Carlos Martínez.

 

Following the event, Maribel Nadal was presented with the Honorary Stimulus Award in recognition of the social work in sport that has been underway for several years at the Academy.

 

Maribel had the following to say about the day: “Although we’ve always been focused on tennis, and subsequently on padel, it is always very satisfactory being able to promote racket sports. I’m told this is the first pickleball court on the Balearic Islands, so we’re happy to be able to give a boost to this sport, which I was able to see today and I thought it was very fun and dynamic. We can’t wait for the Mediterranean Open and for professional players from the USA, Spain, and all over Europe to be able to enjoy our facilities. It will also be a chance for many people in Mallorca to come and watch pickleball live for the first time”.

 

Carlos Pérez, one of the best European pickleball players, was very pleased to attend such a special event, and he spoke of his excitement at playing in the first tournament in two weeks’

time: “Playing the first Mediterranean Open at Rafa Nadal’s academy will give pickleball a very significant boost. It’s a dream and it will be definitive in putting this sport on everyone’s radar”.

 

Pei-Kao, who recently took gold at the national series in England, was in agreement: “This Open will not only offer the excitement of playing the game itself, but also the chance to play in a unique setting”.

 

This edition of the RSM Mediterranean Open-Mallorca Series will include players of over 20 nationalities and its director, Luis de Cristóbal, noted that “today we have taken one of the biggest steps in the history of pickleball in Europe. We can only enjoy this moment, which we will remember for many years”.

 

The event also announced the creation of a working group formed by the universities of Almería, Coruña, and Pontificia de Comillas, and social entities the Segunda Parte Foundation, Down España, Down Madrid, Repueblo, and Jubilenial to form the first adapted pickleball guide, the objective of which is to facilitate participation in the sport among differently abled people. It is an initiative that goes hand in hand with the NO LIMITS by Joola tournament that will take place on Friday 8 December.

 

Repueblo and Reimpulso are the entities organising the Mediterranean Open, which will include four annual tournaments and has already become a standard-setter, both nationally and internationally.

 

 

More information and interview arrangements:

 

Mediterranean Open:

Ana González: (+34) 686 201 188

media@mediterraneanopen.com

 

Rafa Nadal Academy by Movistar

Antonio Arenas: +34 667885160

prensa@rafanadalacademy.co