In less than a decade, the Rafa Nadal Academy has grown from a single training centre in Manacor into an international brand with academies, tennis centres and school programmes on four continents. Its next stop is Albania.
Where it started
The academy opened in Nadal’s home town of Manacor in 2016, with the aim of sharing the training methods and values that made him one of the greatest players in the history of tennis. It has since expanded with more courts, a gym, a school and a sports science department, and is now one of the leading high-performance tennis centres in the world.
One of its best-known graduates is the Filipino player Alexandra Eala, who trained in Manacor before breaking through on the WTA tour.
Kuwait
The first international academy opened in Kuwait in 2020, in partnership with the Tamdeen Group. It follows the Manacor model, offering coaching for players of all ages and levels, and works with the Kuwait Tennis Federation to develop the sport in the country.
Tennis centres in resorts
The brand has also created Rafa Nadal Tennis Centres, a lighter format located in high-end resorts and complexes, including:
- Costa Mujeres, Mexico;
- Sani, Greece;
- Hong Kong;
- Punta Cana, Dominican Republic;
- Porto Belo, Brazil;
- Marbella, Spain.
Schools in Egypt
In September 2024, the first Rafa Nadal Tennis Programme opened in Egypt, in partnership with New Era Education and Uppingham School in Cairo, allowing students to train using the academy’s methods alongside their studies.
Next: Albania
The next major project is a Rafa Nadal Sports Centre in Durrës, on the Albanian coast, with plans for 12 tennis courts, six padel courts, a gym, a swimming pool, wellness and multi-sport areas, and restaurants.
Why Nadal sold a stake
Nadal has explained that the sale of 44.9% of the business to the investment firm GPF Capital was about securing the resources to keep expanding. He stressed that he remains in control and sees the academy as a very personal, lifelong project.
Manacor at the centre
For all its international growth, Manacor remains the heart of the project — and a significant employer and draw for visitors in the east of Mallorca, where young players from around the world come to train.
