From Manacor to the Gulf: Nadal expands international network with new center in Bahrain

From Manacor to the Gulf: Nadal expands international network with new center in Bahrain

Six tennis courts, three padel courts and a cafeteria — the Rafa Nadal Academy continues its expansion

On Mallorca the image is familiar: very early in the morning the first balls roll across the red clay in Manacor, on the grounds of the Rafa Nadal Academy opened in 2016, while behind the wall the corner bakery sends the scent of freshly baked ensaimadas into the streets. Watching there, you see not only training; you see a brand that is growing. Now this network gains another link: the ninth Rafa Nadal Tennis Center opens on the Amwaj Islands in Bahrain.

The new location was deliberately placed in an exclusive coastal residential and tourist area. Six courts will be built on site, distributed between indoor and outdoor areas, three padel courts, spaces for fitness and recovery, a sports shop and a cafeteria. The offer is aimed at all ages and levels of play. Training follows the methodology developed in Manacor, which emphasizes discipline, hard work and technical precision.

Joan Suasi, responsible for the academy's international expansion, describes the opening as a step that "brings" expertise and the training philosophy "to the region" and aims to support local talent. The local partner is the HARVE group, which is involved in infrastructure and operations in Bahrain. Such partnerships ensure that the concept is not only exported but adapted to local needs.

Why is this relevant for Mallorca? Because the Nadal name continues to have magnetic appeal. Young players on the island look up to a success story that originated in Manacor. Coaches, physiotherapists and small service providers benefit indirectly: training concepts, exchange programs and international tournament contacts create demand beyond the island. In the evenings on the Passeig Mallorca, when the streetlights come on and the voices of tennis parents still linger in the cafés, you can feel this connection — a local ecosystem with a global effect.

The expansion is not new: in addition to Manacor, there are already locations in Kuwait, Mexico, Greece, Hong Kong, Marbella and the Dominican Republic in the network; there are also programs in Egypt. Further centers are planned in Brazil (2027) and on Lombok in Indonesia (2028). The new opening coincides with the academy's ten-year anniversary — but it is not an occasion to rest. Rather, it is a moment to take stock and set new goals.

On Mallorca the practical result remains important for parents and young people: solid development pathways, visibility for talent and a clear connection to a training philosophy that originated on the island. If you jog past the academy in Manacor in the morning, you don't just hear serves; you hear hope and hard work. In Bahrain the same rhythms may soon be heard — only with a different sea breeze in the background. This is a story that is celebrated here and from which many on the island will benefit: a piece of Mallorcan sporting identity travelling the world.