Key Takeaways
- Rafael Nadal confirmed that Roger Federer missed the 10th anniversary Rafa Nadal Academy Slam solely due to calendar commitments, noting that “this time it was impossible for him because of his schedule.”
- Federer had previously visited the Manacor complex in July to see the new museum section, having originally helped Nadal inaugurate the facility in October 2016.
- The exhibition brought together tennis stars across generations, featuring Andy Murray, Dominic Thiem, Carlos Moya, David Ferrer, Richard Gasquet, Marat Safin, and Fabio Fognini.
Schedule conflicts kept Roger Federer away from Manacor celebration
Rafael Nadal returned to court on October 3 to headline the Rafa Nadal Academy Slam, an exhibition staged to mark the 10th anniversary of his training complex in Manacor. The event gathered an array of former rivals and longtime peers, but Roger Federer was noticeably missing from the lineup. Addressing the situation, the 22-time Grand Slam champion explained that there was no drama surrounding the Swiss maestro’s absence.
“Roger came during the summer, it was great. It’s always a pleasure to have Roger here, as it is with any other player,” Nadal said when discussing his longtime rival’s absence from the on-court festivities.
Federer had already traveled to Mallorca earlier in the year, touring the newly expanded Rafa Nadal Museum in July. While his presence on the court would have provided an extra spotlight for the milestone, Nadal stressed that existing commitments made another trip impossible so soon.
“But he has been a great supporter of the Academy from the beginning; he came to the opening, but this time it was impossible for him because of his schedule,” Nadal explained.
“So we are very proud of those who have come; they are all great friends and champions,” the Spaniard added.
Rivals reunite for Rafa Nadal Academy Slam
The anniversary exhibition provided Nadal with his first opportunity to compete in front of a live crowd since retiring from professional tennis at the 2024 Davis Cup Finals in Malaga. The format featured a team competition captained by Nadal and Andy Murray, who both led lineups stacked with familiar tour veterans.
| Team | Captain | Roster members |
|---|---|---|
| Team Rafa | Rafael Nadal | Carlos Moya, David Ferrer, Richard Gasquet |
| Team Murray | Andy Murray | Dominic Thiem, Marat Safin, Fabio Fognini |
The gathering reunited players with decades of shared history. Moya worked for years as Nadal’s primary coach, Ferrer was his longtime Spanish Davis Cup teammate, and Gasquet had faced him since their junior days. On the other side, Murray and Thiem spent years clashing with Nadal at the sharp end of Grand Slam events, while Safin and Fognini added further flair to the competition.
A bond that began with the academy’s 2016 launch
Federer’s link to the Manacor facility dates back to its official opening on October 19, 2016. Even though both men were battling major physical setbacks and injury layoffs during that season, the Swiss star traveled to the Balearic Islands to stand alongside Nadal during the inauguration ceremony.
Over their storied careers, the duo built one of the greatest rivalries in sporting history, meeting 40 times with Nadal holding a 24-16 edge. When Federer played the final match of his career at the 2022 Laver Cup in London, Nadal joined him on the court for an emotional doubles farewell alongside Jack Sock and Frances Tiafoe.
Federer has remained active with public and tennis commitments since retiring. In August, the 44-year-old took part in an exhibition evening at Arthur Ashe Stadium ahead of the US Open, beating Andy Roddick in singles before teaming with John McEnroe to defeat Roddick and Andre Agassi. Nadal, meanwhile, continues to guide the steady growth of his academy, which has steadily expanded its educational, training, and museum facilities over the past decade.
