The academy of the Mallorcan tennis player will open a Sport Center in Albania, its first center in the Balkans. From its headquarters in Manacor, the project already has academies in Kuwait and six Tennis Centers around the world.
The Rafa Nadal Academy in Manacor continues to write its story of global expansion. The next stop will be Albania, where the project of the Mallorcan tennis player will open a Sport Center that will join a network that already spans four continents. This has been confirmed by Nadal himself in an interview with CNBC, where he detailed the reasons for the recent sale of 44.9% of the company to the GPF Capital fund.
From Manacor to the world: the strategy behind the sale
The operation, completed in 2025, does not imply a loss of control. Rafa Nadal remains at the helm of a company that he defines as "a lifelong, very personal project". In his own words:
"The company has grown a lot in recent years and we felt that we needed help to continue growing and expanding around the world. That was the main reason for the decision."The capital injection from the GPF Capital fund will allow for the acceleration of the opening of new centers, such as the one in Albania, which will be the first Rafa Nadal Sport Center in the Balkans.
The project was born in Manacor in 2016
The original academy, located in Manacor, opened its doors in 2016 with the aim of transmitting the methodology that led the Mallorcan to win 22 Grand Slam titles. Since then, the complex has become a world-class high-performance centre, where talents like the Filipino Alexandra Eala, who reached the fourth round at Wimbledon and is already among the top 30 in the WTA rankings, have trained.
Kuwait, the first major international bet
The first leap outside Mallorca came in 2020, with the opening of the Rafa Nadal Academy Kuwait, resulting from an agreement with the Tamdeen Group. The complex replicates the model of Manacor and offers programmes for all ages and levels, under the supervision of former player Nuno Márques and a team of coaches relocated from the island. Its aim is to support the Kuwait Tennis Federation in the development of the sport.
Six Tennis Centers in luxury resorts
At the same time, the brand has created the Rafa Nadal Tennis Centers, facilities integrated into high-end hotels. Currently, there are centers in Costa Mujeres (Mexico), Sani (Greece), Hong Kong, Punta Cana (Dominican Republic), Porto Belo (Brazil), and Marbella (Spain).
Egypt, the first Tennis Program
In September 2024, the academy took another step with the opening of the first Rafa Nadal Tennis Program in Egypt, in collaboration with New Era Education. The programme is developed at the Uppingham school, where 1,500 students can practice tennis after class following the methodology of the Mallorcan academy.
What does it mean for the reader in Mallorca?
The international expansion of the Rafa Nadal Academy reinforces the prestige of Manacor as the birthplace of a project that has taken the name of the island around the globe. The original academy remains the heart of the empire, and the sale of 44.9% ensures the resources for the brand to continue growing without losing its essence. For the residents of Mallorca, the academy continues to be an economic and tourist engine, attracting young talents from around the world who train on the island.
The upcoming center in Albania does not yet have an opening date, but the news confirms that expansion is not stopping. Meanwhile, in Manacor, the courts remain filled with future talents dreaming of emulating Rafa Nadal.
You may also like
