Rafael Nadal to play a Las Vegas exhibition on 28 February 2027, his first US match since retiring

Exhibition announced

Rafael Nadal will take part in 'The MGM Slam presented by Capital One' at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, organizers announced on Monday, 26 October 2026. Adnkronos, Europa Press and LaSexta give the date as 28 February 2027, while AP gives 27 February. Nadal will headline the event, which marks his first appearance in the United States since he retired in 2024. Europa Press reports that he announced the return in a video posted on his social media accounts. The 40-year-old former world number one is the event's headline name.

His words

Nadal said in a statement that he remembers the energy of a full arena in Las Vegas, and he framed his return in personal terms.

“I remember how impressive it was to feel the energy of a full arena in a city like Las Vegas”

He said he now returns at a different stage of his life, without the pressure of the tour but with the same passion for the sport, and that the feeling of competing never really goes away.

Background

Nadal faced Carlos Alcaraz in Las Vegas in 2024, during his final year on tour, in a match that Adnkronos says was streamed worldwide on Netflix. Earlier this October he played an exhibition at the Rafa Nadal Academy to mark the academy's tenth anniversary, according to Europa Press. AP reports that the Las Vegas event will be held just before the ATP 1000 tournament in Indian Wells, California.

Still to be confirmed

Additional players, the format and the television partner will be announced in the coming weeks, Adnkronos reports. The event is part of the spring tennis calendar and this is its fourth consecutive year, according to the same report. Until those names are published, the lineup of the exhibition remains open.