The Rafa Nadal Academy by Movistar has inaugurated its first pickleball court at its headquarters in Manacor, where it will host the Mediterranean Open of this new modality next December, which may have “a boost” thanks to its celebration at the winner’s facility. of 22 ‘Grand Slams’.
The academy and the entities ‘Repueblo’ and ‘Reimpulso’ held an event in which the facility’s first pickleball court was inaugurated and in which the first edition of the RSM Mediterranean Open Mallorca Series, which will be held on December 8, 9 and 10 in Manacor and which already has registrations from more than 20 nationalities, as indicated this Friday by the academy.
In the match Maribel Nadal, Commercial and Marketing Director of the academy, and Carlos Pérez, a professional player of this sport, faced Tomeu Salvá, coach of the Academy, and Pei-Kao, the Taiwanese pickleball player.
The two teams were captained by Anabel Medina, head of women’s tennis at the academy and Spanish captain of the Billie Jean King Cup team, and Luis de Cristóbal, director of the Mediterranean Open. Prior to the match, a ‘clinic’ was held in which 12 tennis players from the Rafa Nadal Academy by Movistar had the opportunity to familiarize themselves with the rules and technique of this new sport.
“Although we have always been focused on tennis, and later on paddle tennis, it is always very satisfying for the academy to be able to promote racquet sports. In addition, this is the first pickleball court in the Balearic Islands, so we are happy to help give a boost to this sport that I have had the opportunity to get to know today and that I found very fun and dynamic,” highlighted Maribel Nadal.
The Commercial and Marketing Director of the Academy assured that they are “very much looking forward” to the Mediterranean Open and that “professional players from the United States, Spain and all of Europe can enjoy these facilities.”
Carlos Pérez, one of the best European Pickleball players, was very happy to attend this special day and confirmed the “excitement” that makes him “play the first tournament in two weeks.” “Playing the first Mediterranean Open at Rafa Nadal’s academy is going to give a very important boost to pickleball, it is a dream, and it is going to be definitive for everyone to put this sport on the map,” he clarified.
