At the Rafa Nadal Academy in Manacor, Mallorca, budding athletes can train in both tennis and padel, a rapidly expanding sport with growing global appeal. Established a decade ago by tennis star Rafa Nadal, the academy has evolved into a premier training facility, offering residential programs for promising tennis players and specialized camps for padel enthusiasts, led by some of the sport’s top coaches.
Located about 30 miles east of Palma de Mallorca airport, the academy has become a hub not only for tennis but also for padel professionals and amateurs. The introduction of padel took place five years ago, driven by increasing demand and the sport’s compatibility with tennis. While Rafa Nadal himself does not actively play padel, citing it as a complementary discipline, his sister Maribel Nadal—the academy’s deputy manager—is an avid padel player who credits its social and enjoyable nature for her preference.
Padel is often described as a hybrid of tennis and squash. Played in doubles on a court enclosed by glass walls, the game uses a solid racket and follows tennis-like scoring. It allows players to incorporate wall rebounds into their strategy, fostering a dynamic and highly social experience. This combination has contributed to its fast growth worldwide, with the UK seeing its player base more than double to around one million, and the United States identifying it as the fastest-growing sport in recent years.
The Rafa Nadal Academy’s padel camps are split between youth and adult sessions, with leading figures like Rodri Ovide, a former professional player and one of the sport’s top coaches, taking charge. Camps generally involve a rigorous schedule, including several hours of training per day in Mallorca’s summer heat, diverse fitness regimes, physiotherapy, and nutrition advice, all designed to replicate the atmosphere of professional athletes.
Participants—from teenagers to adults with varied backgrounds—spend their days training on multiple outdoor courts, engaging in tactical discussions, and competing in practice matches. Ovide emphasizes a strategic and disciplined approach, focusing on consistency and minimizing unforced errors rather than flashy play. His coaching philosophy centers on mental toughness and result-oriented performance, reflecting the competitive demands of high-level padel.
Alongside intensive training, the academy offers extensive facilities, including a spa, gym, swimming pools, and access to physiotherapists, blending high-performance sport with comfort. The presence of top-tier athletes, such as world tennis number two Alexander Zverev who has trained on site, adds to the academy’s appeal.
Padel’s rapid growth has also sparked a burgeoning tourism sector. Market research forecasts the global industry rising from an estimated $1.8 billion in 2025 to $5.6 billion by 2034. While many enthusiasts engage in casual play during vacations, dedicated camps like those at the Rafa Nadal Academy offer a more immersive experience, although this often means combining sport with fewer holiday elements.
Though still considered exclusive in some circles due to costs and associations with elite sports communities, padel’s accessibility and social nature continue to drive its expansion across Europe, the Americas, and beyond. The Rafa Nadal Academy represents a prominent example of this trend, merging elite coaching, world-class facilities, and the rising popularity of this fast-paced sport on a Mediterranean island.