The Rafa Nadal Academy by Movistar celebrates its ninth anniversary as a global benchmark

17.10.2025

Editorial RNA

October 19, 2016 will forever remain a milestone in the career and legacy of Rafa Nadal. On that day, Rafa himself officially inaugurated the Rafa Nadal Academy by Movistar in his hometown of Manacor, accompanied by Roger Federer and numerous personalities, authorities, and friends. Nine years later, the Academy has established itself as one of the world’s leading centers for sports, academic, and personal development.

Since its opening, the Rafa Nadal Academy by Movistar has experienced steady growth, staying true to its mission: to educate young people and adults through excellence and the core values that have guided Rafa Nadal’s career — effort, humility, respect, discipline, resilience, and a spirit of self-improvement. Its educational model, which combines high-performance tennis training with first-class academic education, allows students each year to develop their full potential both on and off the court.

A model of international success

In these nine years, the Academy has grown in facilities, programs and recognition. The original complex had 33 outdoor tennis courts, seven semi-covered and four covered, but today it has 45 tennis courts, 19 paddle courts, one of the Academy’s major commitments, a complete sports medical center by QuirónSalud, gym, spa, residence for athletes, an international school -the Rafa Nadal School- that offers a comprehensive education to students from all over the world, a Museum , which hosts the first and only exhibition of the Rafa Nadal School, an international school – the Rafa Nadal School, an international school that offers a comprehensive education to students from all over the world, and the Rafa Nadal Museum, which houses the first and only exhibition dedicated to Rafa’s career, as well as a wide gastronomic offer with restaurants themed around Roland Garros, Wimbledon or the US Open.

The Rafa Nadal Academy by Movistar model has crossed borders. Since 2020, the Rafa Nadal Academy Kuwait has taken the Manacor methodology to the heart of the Middle East, consolidating a global network that exports Rafa Nadal’s training model and values to thousands of players around the world.

In addition to these two academies, there are also Rafa Nadal Tennis Centers in Mexico, Greece, Hong Kong and the recently inaugurated academies in Marbella (located in the Hotel Don Carlos) and the Dominican Republic (located in Zel Punta Cana). The Rafa Nadal Tennis Program has also been developed in Egypt since 2024, thanks to an agreement with the Uppingham School in Cairo.

Thanks to this growth work, the academy received the “Capital Award” for its international projection and for having contributed to the well-being of local communities and the care of the environment. Collaboration with international educational and sports institutions has expanded its influence, facilitating cultural and sports exchanges that benefit both students and the academy.

Sporting successes that endorse a project

During this decade, the Rafa Nadal Academy by Movistar has trained some of the most promising players in world tennis. Names like Casper Ruud, Jaume Munar, Alex Eala, Martin Landaluce, Abdullah Shelbayh, Alina Korneeva or Dani Rincón have been forged in Manacor before making the leap to the professional circuit. The Grand Slam Junior titles, where Rafa Nadal Academy players have won 13 titles (seven singles and six doubles), successes on the ATP and WTA circuit and numerous achievements in international tournaments confirm the impact of its methodology.

In 2022, the Academy received the Joaquim Blume Award at the National Sports Awards, becoming the first tennis academy in history to obtain this recognition for its work in promoting and fostering the sport. The academy has become one of the main venues for major tennis events in Spain and annually hosts dozens of tournaments of all levels, including the Rafa Nadal Open by Movistar, of the ATP Challenger Tour category, which has already accumulated seven editions.

Nine years growing with Mallorca and sport

Located in Manacor, just 35 minutes from Palma airport, the Academy has not only contributed to position Mallorca as an international sports reference, but has also generated employment, deseasonalized tourism and promoted economic growth in the region. All this while maintaining a firm commitment to sustainability and respect for the environment.

Nine years after its inauguration, the Rafa Nadal Academy by Movistar continues to evolve without losing its essence: to be a place where sport and education go hand in hand, and where values are just as important as sporting results.