Rafael Nadal is set to make his return to the court early next year.
Almost a month on from the Rafa Nadal Academy Slam, in which the Spaniard competed alongside Carlos Moyà, David Ferrer, Richard Gasquet, Andy Murray, Dominic Thiem, Marat Safin, and Fabio Fognini, Nadal has announced his next exhibition event.
Nadal, as confirmed by the man himself on social media, will compete in The MGM Slam on February 28, 2027.
Nadal recorded a short video message confirming his participation in the event for the first time since 2024.
Rafael Nadal’s message as he joins The 2027 MGM Slam
“Hello everyone, I have great memories from 2024 playing in Las Vegas. The atmosphere and the fans were simply amazing,” Nadal said in an X post.
“So I am very excited to announce that I will be back in 2027 and I am very looking forward to competing in the MGM Slam, so see you soon in Vegas.”
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Nadal is now set to compete on hard courts for the first time since retiring from his professional tennis career in November 2024.
As already mentioned, Nadal previously competed in The MGM Slam in 2024 [then known as the Netflix Slam].
Carlos Alcaraz, the next great Spanish superstar on the professional circuit, defeated Nadal in a final set tiebreak, 3–6, 6–4, 14–12.
Eight players competed in the 2026 event: Taylor Fritz, Tommy Paul, Nick Kyrgios, Casper Ruud, Gael Monfils, Lorenzo Musetti, Alexander Bublik, and Joao Fonseca.
| Grand Slam event | Years Rafael Nadal won the title |
| Australian Open | 2009, 2022 |
| Roland Garros | 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2022 |
| Wimbledon | 2008, 2010 |
| US Open | 2010, 2013, 2017, 2019 |
Fonseca won the title, beating Reilly Opelka in the final, 10-6, 7-10, 10-5.
Rafael Nadal’s retirement
Nadal brought the curtain down on his professional career at the 2024 Davis Cup Finals.
Botic van de Zandschulp defeated Nadal in his last-ever professional match, triumphing 6-4, 6-4 in the first rubber of Spain’s quarter-final match against the Netherlands.
Carlos Alcaraz levelled the tie after defeating Tallon Griekspoor, before Van de Zandschulp and Wesley Koolhof broke Spanish hearts with a 7-6, 7-6 victory over Alcaraz and Marcel Granollers in the deciding doubles rubber.
“It has been 20 years of a professional career in which you have carried me through the good times, and in the bad you pushed me to keep playing,” Nadal told the crowd in Malaga following his nation’s defeat.
“I want to congratulate the Netherlands and thank the whole Spanish team that is here, who have let me play the Davis Cup again, which has not gone as we all wanted. I have given everything I had.
“The truth is that you never want to get to this point. I’m not tired of playing tennis but my body doesn’t want to play anymore and you have to accept that. I feel super privileged, I’ve been able to make my hobby my profession for a long time.”
