Rafael Nadal sweats it out on court before tennis comeback at his academy: Watch
Rafael Nadal is back on the tennis court, and the sight of the 22-time Grand Slam champion sweating it out in training has given fans a glimpse of what is to come. The Spanish legend returned to the practice court at the Rafa Nadal Academy in Manacor on Monday, working with two sparring partners ahead of his much-anticipated return in October.
Nadal, who retired from professional tennis in November 2024, has not played in front of a crowd since his final appearance for Spain at the Davis Cup Finals in Malaga. Nearly two years later, the 40-year-old will once again pick up a racket in front of fans when he takes part in exhibition matches at his academy on October 3.
The upcoming event, named the Rafa Nadal Academy Slam, will form part of celebrations marking the academy's 10th anniversary. Nadal will share the court with some of his former rivals and friends, although the complete list of participants is yet to be announced. The event will begin at 5 pm local time and will be broadcast live on Movistar Plus. Rafael Nadal practising for an upcoming exhibition on October 3rd at his Academy @gillitennis on IG pic.twitter.com/4ll3zW5ramβ Olly Tennis (@Olly_Tennis_) September 22, 2026KING OF CLAY PICKS UP THE RACKET AGAINThe latest training footage shows Nadal putting himself through his paces on court as he prepares for the exhibition. While the session is not a sign of a return to the ATP Tour, it is an encouraging sight for supporters who have missed watching one of tennis' biggest stars in action.
Nadal walked away from professional tennis with an extraordinary record. He finished his career with 92 ATP Tour-level titles and 22 Grand Slam trophies, including a record 14 French Open titles. He also 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. Nadal had announced his retirement in October 2024 after a difficult period affected by injuries, saying he had been unable to play without limitations.
For now, Nadal's return is strictly for exhibition tennis. But his latest training session in Manacor means fans will soon get another opportunity to see the Spaniard in action β this time on the court at the academy that bears his name.- EndsPublished By: sabyasachi chowdhuryPublished On: Sep 22, 2026 17:53 IST
