The Majorcan tennis player Rafael Nadal has marked one of the most successful sporting careers of all time. His connection to Ibiza goes far beyond the courts. From his early achievements to important investments, Nadal’s relationship with the island is deep and significant. Nadal will end his professional career after the Davis Cup has left a void in the world of tennis.. With 22 Grand Slam titles, the Manacor native bids farewell to the sport he has dominated for nearly two decades. Beyond his sporting legacy, there is a lesser-known story: his strong bond with Ibiza, a place where he has lived key moments in both his personal and professional life.
His first title: Ibiza, the beginning of the legend
In 1994, a young Rafael Nadal, only eight years old, took his first steps in tennis. It was at the Ibiza Club de Campo where little Rafa won his first title, an Under-12 Balearic championship. Despite his young age, he was already showing glimpses of what would be his future: dedication, grit and ambition that would take him to the top. That first trophy on the island marked the beginning of a career that would end up revolutionizing the tennis world. Rafael Nadal ‘s connection with Ibiza did not stop at that first milestone. The island has become a personal refuge for the tennis player, a place where, over the years, he has found peace and tranquility after the hard seasons of competition. His yacht Great White, with which he usually sails the waters of Ibiza and Formentera, is a symbol of his moments of disconnection, shared with his family and closest friends.
Nadal’s investments in Ibiza
Beyond personal enjoyment, Rafael Nadal has bet economically for the island, strengthening its link with Ibiza through important real estate investments.
Nadal maintains a close friendship with Abel Matutes Prats. As a result of this friendship, the Mallorcan sportsman invested in Mabel Capital, the investment arm of Matutes Jr. behind restaurant projects such as the Tatel restaurant and real estate investments. Recently, Matutes and Nadal have dissociated themselves from the other partner Manuel Campos and the restaurant that occupies the first floor of the Hard Rock Hotel in Ibiza, an establishment owned by the Ibizan family. Other illustrious investors in the venture included Pau Gasol, Cristiano Ronaldo and Enrique Iglesias.
Nadal is co-owner of one of the hotel complexes owned by Palladium Hotel Group whose operation is the responsibility of the most international Ibizan chain. It is the Costa Mujeres in Mexico, where there is a Rafa Nadal Tennis Centre.
Finally, Nadal has opted for Melià Hotels for his hotel venture and the development of hotels that reflect the Mediterranean spirit and a healthy lifestyle in hotels mainly located in sun and beach destinations that will also have a presence in large cities. He also has interests with Matutes Prats in the audiovisual industry. His stamp is visible in numerous successful series. The instrument has started to develop sporting events. Nadal’s next venture with the Matutes family is the development of branded homes on the Costa del Sol, the result of a 200 million euro investment. Rafael, as his uncle and coach Toni Nadal always calls him, has not only focused on real estate investments; his social commitment also extends to the island. On several occasions, he has collaborated in charity events and supported local causes. The link between Nadal and Ibiza is not just that of a famous visitor, but of someone who has built an emotional and professional bond with the island. His first title, his investments and his support for the local community are reflections of this relationship.
