Andy Murray has already named Novak Djokovic as the best tennis player of all time as he prepares to reignite his rivalry with Rafael Nadal. The Scot could face Nadal on the court today (Saturday) for the first time in a decade, despite both tennis icons having retired from professional play in 2024.
They will both take part in the Rafa Nadal Academy Slam, which celebrates the 10th anniversary of the Spaniard's centre of excellence. Since retiring, Murray has moved into coaching, while Nadal still has a hands-on role at his tennis academy in Manacor, Mallorca.
First meeting since 2016
The special event will see the Scot captain his four-man Team Murray, which takes on Team Rafa on the Spanish clay. They could face off for the first time since the Madrid Open in 2016, when Murray beat his rival in a surprise 7-5, 6-4 victory.
For 22-time Grand Slam winner Nadal, it represents a chance to increase his 17 wins over Murray, having lost seven times to the double Olympic champion. Despite their strong relationship, Nadal will also have the chance to exact revenge, after Murray crowned another of their former rivals - Djokovic - as the greatest tennis player of all time.
Murray's GOAT verdict
Murray agreed to coach Djokovic ahead of the Australian Open in 2025. Although they parted ways by mutual agreement after just six months, Murray named Djokovic as the greatest ever over both Nadal and Roger Federer - who between the three of them dominated Grand Slams for two decades.
Murray said last year: "Novak has in the last few years cemented himself as the best tennis player of all time, certainly of his generation, with the records that he's achieved. These next couple of years, I think he maybe already has a legitimate claim to be the best athlete of all time.
"But I think if he can go out as a 38, 39 year old and win more Slams, and beat Alcaraz and Sinner in big matches, he's got a claim to be the best athlete of all time and I think that's exciting for me and his team to be part of that."
Djokovic has still not won a Grand Slam since his 2023 US Open success, though his longevity and 24 majors make it very difficult to argue with Murray's verdict. The 39-year-old came close to ending his drought at this year's Australian Open, but lost out to the new star of men's tennis - Carlos Alcaraz - in the final.
Academy event line-up
Looking ahead to today's highly-anticipated event, Nadal personally invited Murray to return to the academy in a social media post. It marks Murray's third visit, having first visited back in 2016 for a training session and returned in 2019 to compete at the Rafa Nadal Open.
Team Rafa will feature Spanish greats David Ferrer and Carlos Moya, with Frenchman Richard Gasquet also in a strong line-up. They face Team Murray, featuring Dominic Thiem, Marat Safin and Fabio Fognini in the doubles exhibition event.
