Rafael Nadal to Return to Las Vegas for 2027 MGM Slam
Key Points Rafael Nadal will return to the court at the MGM Slam in Las Vegas, marking his first competitive appearance since retiring Fans speculate about possible appearances by retired stars such as Roger Federer Ticket presales run from October 27 to 29 for MGM Rewards and AXS members, with general sales beginning October 30 through AXS
Key Points
Rafael Nadal will return to the court at the MGM Slam in Las Vegas, marking his first competitive appearance since retiring
Fans speculate about possible appearances by retired stars such as Roger Federer
Ticket presales run from October 27 to 29 for MGM Rewards and AXS members, with general sales beginning October 30 through AXS
Rafael Nadal is set to make his return to competitive tennis for the first time since his retirement in November 2024, playing at the MGM Slam in Las Vegas on February 28, 2027. MGM Resorts International confirmed the event on October 26, with the 22-time Grand Slam champion headlining the competition at T-Mobile Arena.
Rafael Nadal
MGM Slam
Las Vegas
MGM Resorts International
T-Mobile Arena
Rafael Nadal to Headline 2027 MGM Slam in Las Vegas
Nadal returns to the venue where he played fellow Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz in a sold-out exhibition match in March 2024 at the MGM Slam Presented by Capital One. That encounter, then known as the Netflix Slam, got worldwide attention with a Netflix global broadcast.
Nadal
Carlos
Alcaraz
MGM Slam
Netflix Slam
Nadal has relished the chance to play Las Vegas again. He remembered the huge reaction from the crowd in his last outing and said he was keen to compete without the pressures of the professional tour. He may have retired from professional tennis, but his love for the sport is still there, and the event will give him another opportunity to interact with fans.
Nadal
Las Vegas
MGM Resorts has not yet announced any other participants, the format of the competition or broadcast arrangements for the 2027 edition. Organizers say the event will include a number of top professional players vying for a hefty prize pool.
MGM Resorts
hefty prize pool
If other retired tennis stars joined Nadal, it would get more attention. Fans may hope to see names such as Roger Federer, who has also made other exhibition appearances since his retirement. However, his participation has not been officially announced and the organizers have not said whether the tournament will feature singles or doubles matches.
Nadal
Roger Federer,
The upcoming event follows the 2026 edition, which had eight ATP players taking part, including American Taylor Fritz. That competition was won by Brazilian teenager Joao Fonseca after he beat Reilly Opelka in a 10-point tiebreak format.
2026 edition
eight
ATP
Taylor Fritz
Joao Fonseca
Reilly Opelka
MGM Slam Brings Nadal Back After 2026 Legends Exhibition
Nadal’s comeback also comes after he took part in the Rafa Nadal Academy Slam in October 2026. The exhibition featured several well-known former players, including Andy Murray, Dominic Thiem, Fabio Fognini, Carlos Moyà, David Ferrer, Marat Safin and Richard Gasquet.
Nadal’s comeback
Rafa Nadal Academy Slam
Andy Murray
Dominic Thiem
Fabio Fognini
Carlos Moyà
David Ferrer
Marat Safin
Richard Gasquet
Tickets go on sale to MGM Rewards and AXS members on October 27 at 10 a.m. PT. Pre-sale tickets are on sale until October 29 at 10 p.m. General sales start on October 30 at 10 a.m. through AXS. Capital One Entertainment will also offer exclusive ticket packages to Capital One Rewards cardholders, with more details to come in the coming weeks.
MGM Rewards
AXS
members
Pre-sale tickets
General sales
AXS
Capital One Entertainment
Capital One Rewards
cardholders
Nadal’s involvement helps to raise Las Vegas’ profile as a major sporting event destination, said Ryan Abboushi, president of entertainment for MGM Resorts.
Nadal’s involvement
Las Vegas’
Ryan Abboushi
MGM Resorts
T-Mobile Arena is located between Park MGM and New York-New York on the Las Vegas Strip and seats about 20,000 fans. It is a frequent venue for big sporting events, concerts, and other large-scale events.
T-Mobile Arena
Park MGM
New York-New York
Las Vegas Strip
Nadal has retired from professional tennis following Spain’s elimination from the 2024 Davis Cup Finals. His last singles match as a professional was a loss to the Netherlands’ Botic van de Zandschulp on November 19, 2024.
Nadal
2024 Davis Cup Finals
Botic van de Zandschulp
The upcoming MGM Slam will be an opportunity to get back into competition, but MGM Resorts has not indicated whether Nadal will participate in any further exhibitions after February 2027.
MGM Slam
MGM Resorts
Nadal
las vegas
nevada
north america
sports
usa
