Murray, Nadal to Renew Rivalry After 10 Years Apart

Former world No. 1 Andy Murray is set to renew his on-court rivalry with Spanish tennis legend Rafael Nadal when the two former champions meet at the Rafa Nadal Academy Slam in Mallorca on October 3, 2026.

The special exhibition event is being organised to mark the 10th anniversary of the Rafa Nadal Academy in Manacor, Mallorca, and will feature Murray and Nadal as captains of two opposing teams.

Murray will lead Team Murray, while Nadal will captain Team Rafa.

The organisers are expected to announce the remaining members of both teams ahead of the event.

The meeting will be particularly significant for tennis fans as it will be the first time Murray and Nadal have faced each other on court in 10 years.

Their most recent competitive encounter came in the semi-final of the 2016 Mutua Madrid Open, when Nadal defeated Murray on clay.

Nadal personally invited Murray to participate in the anniversary event through a video message shared on social media.

In the video, the Spanish great jokingly referred to Murray’s training routine and suggested that the Scot had been practising almost like a professional.

Nadal also expressed confidence that he could remain competitive despite not being able to train as extensively as Murray, adding a light-hearted element to the upcoming reunion between two of the sport’s most recognisable figures.

Murray, a three-time Grand Slam champion and former world No. 1, has maintained a connection with the Rafa Nadal Academy over the years.

He first visited the academy in 2016 for a training session before returning in 2019 to compete at the Rafa Nadal Open.

The October event will provide an opportunity for the two tennis icons to share the court again after a decade, although the contest is expected to have a celebratory and exhibition character rather than being part of the regular professional tour.

Murray and Nadal were among the leading players of their generation and regularly competed against each other during an era dominated by several of the sport’s biggest stars.

Their rivalry included encounters at major tournaments and other prestigious events around the world.

The Rafa Nadal Academy Slam forms part of celebrations marking a decade since Nadal established his tennis academy in Mallorca.

The centre has since become an important training and development facility for young tennis players and aspiring professionals.

With the full team line-ups still to be revealed, attention will now turn to the October 3 reunion and the possibility of seeing Murray and Nadal share a tennis court again for the first time since their 2016 meeting.

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