By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Friday, June 21, 2024
Photo credit: Rafa Nadal Sport Center
The king of clay is bringing his training methodology and tennis treasures to Albania.
Rafael Nadal and Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama announced plans to open a Rafa Nadal Sport Center complex in Albania.
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The Albanian coastal city of Durres will host the multi-sports complex that will teach the Rafa Nadal Academy by Movistar training methodology established in the 14-time Roland Garros champion’s native Mallorca.
The Spanish superstar and his team set their mission statement: “to develop and promote tennis and sport in Albania [and] reassert Rafa Nadal and his team’s commitment to values in sport and the education of children and adults around the world.”
“We’re so delighted to announce the upcoming construction and opening of a center in Albania,” Nadal said. “The project is incredible and we loved the country’s vision for promoting sport and its values. I’m sure it will be a success.”
The Rafa Nadal Sport Center in Albania will feature 12 tennis courts, 6 padel courts, a multi-sports court, a gym and wellness area, a swimming pool and a restaurant zone.
The Center will have a shop and a museum with some of Rafa Nadal’s treasured trophies and apparel and trophies donated by other champion athletes.
Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama, who met Nadal at ZEL Costa Brava hotel, said the new complex will be located alongside a new Manchester City football center.
“There are many champions and great professionals in the world of sport, but there aren’t many champions of life and of human values like Rafa,” Prime Minister Rama said. “From a distance, I’ve always had the impression that Rafa was a great man, but now I have even more admiration for his modesty and the way he is.
“I think the value of this center will lie not only in learning to play tennis or other sports, but also in helping children and young people to understand how important it is to be both a good professional and a good person.”
When Nadal closes the curtain on his iconic competitive career, he will be very busy with his family and overseeing his tennis academies.
The international expansion of the original Rafa Nadal Academy creates the king of clay’s tennis teaching empire around the world:
Rafa Nadal Academy: Spain (Mallorca) and Kuwait.
Rafa Nadal Tennis Center: Greece, Mexico and Hong Kong
Rafa Nadal Sport Center: Albania (Coming soon)
Rafa Nadal Tennis Program: Egypt (Opening in September 2024
Tennis Now has visited the Rafa Nadal Tennis Center in Mexico a few times, including last June, and it’s well worth the trip providing top coaching and facilities.
