Nadal bags $100M after selling stake in famous tennis academy

Rafael Nadal competes for Spain at Paris Olympics in July 2024. Photo by Reuters

The deal to sell 44.9% of the ownership of the tennis academy was announced by Nadal earlier this week with the buyer being private investment company GPF, according to Spanish media.

Nadal established the academy in 2016. It is one of Spain's largest sports facilities, boasting 19 competition-grade courts and a top-tier coaching team led by his uncle and longtime mentor, Toni Nadal. The academy charges participants $62,000 per year, and Nadal himself regularly trains and mentors students there.

Last year, a severe storm in Mallorca caused significant damage to the academy. Nadal has shared photos of the aftermath on social media and invested millions of USD in repairs.

In addition to the flagship Mallorca academy, Nadal also operates facilities in Cancun, Kuwait and Greece, managed by Aspemirm, a company led by his mother Ana Maria. Aspemir's net worth rose by 44% to $350 million in 2023, recording $97 million in profits.

Nadal and his family still maintained the majority ownership of the academy network and there's little indication that they plan to sell it entirely. The 22-time Grand Slam champion has emphasized his dedication to training future talent. The academy regularly hosts the children of notable figures like tennis legend Roger Federer, and has trained stars like Casper Ruud and Denis Shapovalov.

Besides player development, the academy also host tournaments, special events and vacation services, including hotels and restaurants inside the campus.

"A few months ago, I climbed a mountain with Federer in Italy for an interview," Nadal told Marca last year. "We talked about something very important: legacy. I want to leave something for tennis."

A grade court at Nadal's tennis academy. Photo by Rafa Nadal Tennis Academy

Nadal retired from professional tennis after the Davis Cup in November 2024, ending a two-decade career that saw him win 22 Grand Slam titles and was dubbed as the "King of Clay".

At this week's Gran Gala of Spanish newspaper Mundo Deportivo, Nadal reflected on the intense rivalry within the "Big 3" of tennis alongside Federer and Novak Djokovic.

"They are definitely the strongest opponents," Nadal said. "The three of us pushed each other to the limit. Without one of the other two, we wouldn't have achieved what we have today."

Nadal also acknowledged the toll of their competition: "Maybe we all went beyond our limits to prolong our careers as much as possible. Right now, I live with much less pain than before my retirement. Going up and down stairs is much easier. This is a big step forward in my life. I'm adapting to the new life, and it helps me not miss tennis too much."

Among the "Big 3," Djokovic remains the only active player, competing at the age of 37. Federer retired in 2022 at 41, while Nadal stepped away at 38.