Rafael Nadal returned to the tennis court nearly two years after his final professional match, participating in an exhibition event on October 3, 2026, in Manacor, a town in the Balearic Islands of Spain. This marked the first time since November 19, 2024, when Nadal played in the Davis Cup quarterfinals in Malaga, where Spain was eliminated. Nadal acknowledged the long absence, saying the racket reminded him of "a lot of the pain I have gone through." He admitted that resuming training was not part of his habits and had only occasionally played since retiring, notably with Alexandra Eala in November 2025. Ahead of the event, Nadal increased his training sessions to regain some sensations, though he acknowledged his physical condition was not competitive. The exhibition featured a team format with super tie-breaks in doubles. Nadal was part of Team Rafa, which included Richard Gasquet, David Ferrer, and Carlos Moyà. The opposing team was led by Andy Murray, who was joined by Dominic Thiem, Marat Safin, and Fabio Fognini. Six matches were planned, each consisting of ten points, with a decisive super tie-break in seven points if the score was tied at 3-3. Team Rafa and Murray's team were tied at 3-3 after the initial six matches, leading to a final match between Nadal and Moyà against Murray and Fognini. Nadal and Moyà won the decisive super tie-break 7-5, with Nadal concluding the match by placing a volley toward Murray to score the last point. The event was intended to celebrate the Manacor training center, officially launched in October 2016, which has become one of the most well-known training centers in the world of tennis. Nadal emphasized that the event was not a step toward a return to professional competition but a celebration of the project. He said the occasion allowed him to reconnect with the sport in a different way, focusing on the legacy and community impact of the training center rather than on competitive performance.