Rafael Nadal is returning to the tennis courtroom because of the world’s greatest streaming firm.
Netflix will host its newest stay sports activities occasion in March, a one-night-only affair known as the “Netflix Slam,” with the legendary tennis star set to face his countryman, Carlos Alcaraz, in an exhibition match. No different contributors have been named but, however well being keen, Alcaraz and Nadal will roam the courtroom in Las Vegas a day earlier than the Indian Wells Open is ready to start in California.
In statements to Variety and different media retailers, each males had been excited to participate within the streamer’s newest sporting spectacle:
“’I’m very excited for my first go to to Las Vegas, one of the crucial iconic and entertaining cities on the planet,’ Nadal mentioned in an announcement. ‘I’m additionally very excited to be enjoying with my fellow countryman Carlos Alcaraz. I’m positive it will likely be a unbelievable night time of tennis.’
“Alcaraz, a U.S. Open and Wimbledon champion and at present the No. 2 ranked males’s participant tennis participant on the planet, commented, ‘I’m honored and so pleased to be sharing the courtroom with Rafa in Las Vegas. He’s an all-time nice, in fact, and his data and achievements converse for themselves. Rafa additionally is among the nicest guys on Tour and I look ahead to our match on March 3.’”
For Alcaraz, it is a chance to share the courtroom with somebody he idolized whereas rising up in Spain. Within the midst of his prime, the 20-year-old star seems as if he may place his identify alongside Nadal’s among the many all-time greats briefly order.
Nadal had an injury-laden 2023 throughout which he solely performed two official matches in protection of his Australian Open title, shedding in straight units within the second spherical to Mackenzie McDonald. He missed your complete clay courtroom season, which means that he was unable so as to add to his French Open legend as arguably one of the best ever to play the purple courts at Roland-Garros. Nadal additionally missed the grass courtroom and laborious courtroom seasons, leaving him out of Wimbledon and the U.S. Open. Consequently, he dropped from the ATP’s prime 100 rankings for the primary time since 2003.
Nevertheless, maybe getting the bag from Netflix — at the very least for an exhibition — is the spark Nadal’s physique must push on by way of 2024. In late September, the 22-time Grand Slam champion mentioned that 2024 could also be his last year of competitive tennis.
As a lot as some have pushed for Netflix to totally interact with stay sports activities, the corporate has been understandably cautious on learn how to add these new occasions. With out direct rights to a league, group or governing physique, it has created its personal occasions, such because the “Netflix Cup,” a golf match that featured golf star Justin Thomas and System One racer Carlos Sainz.
Netflix put out feelers for live boxing earlier than Premier Boxing Champions signed a brand new deal wit Amazon’s Prime Video. It has also expressed interest in bidding for the NBA’s in-season match, the brand new league fixture. The Los Angeles Lakers gained the inaugural NBA Cup on Saturday.