Top five tennis players who graduated from Rafael Nadal Academy

Four-time Grand Slam champion Iga Swaitek also visited the Rafael Nadal Academy regularly.

Legacy is a word that is associated with great players. One of the all-time legends in the game of tennis, Rafael Nadal, reiterated it in a recent speech among 52 young players who graduated from the Rafael Nadal Academy’s annual summer program. Speaking at the graduation ceremony at his academy, Nadal recalled a special conversation with his longtime rival Roger Federer.

Nadal and Federer, during their visit to the Italian Dolomites, discussed how they would be remembered after a few years. Both were clear that it was not about the trophies, as someone could overhaul them. The southpaw reiterated the fact that they want to be known for the person they are and how they impact society. The Swiss maestro is known for his philanthropic work and for Nadal, it is his Rafael Nadal Academy that has been helping players.

While top players like Andy Murray reach out to the academy to hone their skills, it has been helping many youngsters get ready for the grueling competition. Let’s look at five alumni of the Rafael Nadal Academy who have started making inroads on the circuit.

5. Felix Auger-Aliassime

One of tennis’s greatest prospects, Felix Auger-Aliassime, regularly works at the Rafael Nadal Academy to improve his game. The 23-year-old Canadian won the 2022 ATP Cup, representing Canada. Toni Nadal, who trained Rafael Nadal, the 22-time Grand Slam champion, is currently coaching Auger-Aliassime. Because of his amazing athleticism, explosive power and well-rounded game, he is one of the strongest candidates on the tour.

The world saw highlights of his game when he stretched Rafael Nadal to a five-setter at Roland-Garros, one of the three players to have done so. With the Rafael Nadal Academy’s cutting-edge facilities and individualized coaching, he can emerge as a great player in the coming years.

4. Jaume Munar

Spanish tennis star Jaume Munar has also been a part of the Rafael Nadal Academy. Like Nadal, Munar is a native of Mallorca and has greatly profited from the academy’s extensive training program. He has gained recognition on the ATP Tour with wins over top players. It all started with a win over Alexander Zverev in 2019 in Morocco.

Due to the academy’s emphasis on building a solid all-around game, Munar has improved and is now able to compete at a higher level. It is evident in the way he has been beating top players in the current generation. Apart from Zverev, he has won over the likes of Carlos Alcaraz and Casper Ruud.

3. Bianca Andreescu

One player on the WTA circuit who has benefited a lot from the Rafael Nadal Academy is Bianca Andreescu. The Canadian entered the academy in Spain as a teenager to work on her skills and it reaped immediate rewards, as she beat Serena Williams twice to win the Canadian Open and US Open. She became the first Canadian to lift a major singles title.

The Canadian has been vocal about the role played by the academy in helping her in the rehabilitation process after injury and also improving her technical prowess and mental resilience. The 23-year-old will look to work on her all-around game as the academy has a comprehensive approach to training, which includes technical, physical and mental preparation

2. Casper Ruud

Casper Ruud has put Norway on the tennis map with his growth in the last few years. With a wonderful start to his career and a promising future ahead, the world will see him at the top more often than not. The seeds of his career were sown at the Rafael Nadal Academy. Ruud has worked hard at the academy to improve his footwork and baseline play.

The Norwegian has credited the academy for enhancing his game. Especially on the clay courts, he seems to be at home, as he reached the finals at the French Open in 2023 and 2024, along with the semi-finals at this year’s edition. More than the game, his on-court actions were rewarded with the 2022 Stefan Edberg Sportsmanship award.

1. Carlos Alcaraz

At the 2020 Australian Open, two things were the silent talking points. One was about the news of CODID-19. The second one was about a 17-year-old Spaniard named Carlos Alcaraz, who was making his debut at a Grand Slam and was the one everyone wanted to see perform. He started with a bang with a straight-sets win over Botic Van de Zandschulp of the Netherlands.

He was appreciated by none other than the legend from his country, Rafael Nadal. It is no wonder that the southpaw was impressed by Alcaraz’s intensity and passion, having nurtured his skills at the Rafael Nadal Academy. It was evident as he climbed the World No. 1 ranking as a teenager.

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