Rafael Nadal will play in a tennis exhibition in Las Vegas early next year, marking his first appearance in the United States since he retired two years ago.
The 22-time Grand Slam champion will headline “The MGM Slam presented by Capital One” at T-Mobile Arena on Feb. 28, organizers announced Monday.
Nadal faced Carlos Alcaraz in a Las Vegas exhibition in 2024, during his final year on tour.
“I remember how impressive it was to feel the energy of a full arena in a city like Las Vegas,” the 40-year-old Nadal said. “Now I return in a different stage of my life, without the pressure of the tour but with the same passion for this sport. I have always loved competing, and even if my professional career is finished, that feeling never really goes away.”
Event Details
Organizers will announce additional players and the format for the event in the coming weeks. The exhibition is scheduled for just before the ATP 1000 event in Indian Wells, California.
Last year, eight players competed in a tiebreaker format.