MGM Resorts announced on Monday, October 26, 2026, that Rafael Nadal will headline the MGM Slam at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on February 28, 2027. It is described as his first competitive appearance since he retired in November 2024.
Nadal won 22 Grand Slam singles titles.
His last singles match as a professional was a loss to Botic van de Zandschulp on November 19, 2024, according to GamblingNews.com; Casino.org does not name the opponent.
Nadal has played this venue before. In March 2024 he faced fellow Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz at T-Mobile Arena in a sold-out exhibition match streamed on Netflix. GamblingNews.com reports that the arena seats about 20,000 and that the event, now billed as the MGM Slam Presented by Capital One, was formerly known as the Netflix Slam.
Presales for MGM Rewards and AXS members begin at 10:00 Pacific Time on October 27, 2026, and general sales open through AXS at the same hour on October 30.
MGM Resorts has not announced the other participants, the format, the financial terms of Nadal's participation or whether he will play further exhibitions after February 2027.
The 2026 MGM Slam featured eight ATP players, including American Taylor Fritz, and was won by Brazilian teenager Joao Fonseca. GamblingNews.com alone reports that Fonseca beat Reilly Opelka in a 10-point tiebreak format. Organizers say the 2027 event will include a number of top professional players competing for a "hefty" prize pool, according to the same outlet, but no names have been released.
Fans have speculated about an appearance by Roger Federer, GamblingNews.com reports, but his participation has not been announced.
GamblingNews.com reports that Nadal took part in the Rafa Nadal Academy Slam in October 2026, alongside Andy Murray, Dominic Thiem, Fognini, Moya, Ferrer, Safin and Gasquet. The sources do not say whether that event counted as competitive, so it is unclear why the MGM Slam is described as his first competitive appearance since retiring. The same outlet paraphrases Nadal as keen to compete without the pressures of the professional tour and does not give a direct quote.
According to GamblingNews.com, Ryan Abboushi, president of entertainment for MGM Resorts, said Nadal's involvement helps raise Las Vegas' profile as a destination for major sporting events.
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