Rafael Nadal, Carlos Alcaraz to play in Netflix’s latest live sports event

Rafael Nadal is returning to the tennis court thanks to the world’s biggest streaming company.

Netflix will host its latest live sports event in March, a one-night-only affair called the “Netflix Slam,” with the legendary tennis star set to face his countryman, Carlos Alcaraz, in an exhibition match. No other participants have been named yet, but health willing, Alcaraz and Nadal will roam the court in Las Vegas a day before the Indian Wells Open is set to begin in California.

In statements to Variety and other media outlets, both men were excited to take part in the streamer’s latest sporting spectacle:

“’I’m very excited for my first visit to Las Vegas, one of the most iconic and entertaining cities in the world,’ Nadal said in a statement. ‘I’m also very excited to be playing with my fellow countryman Carlos Alcaraz. I am sure it will be a fantastic night of tennis.’

“Alcaraz, a U.S. Open and Wimbledon champion and currently the No. 2 ranked men’s player tennis player in the world, commented, ‘I’m honored and so happy to be sharing the court with Rafa in Las Vegas. He’s an all-time great, of course, and his records and achievements speak for themselves. Rafa also is one of the nicest guys on Tour and I look forward to our match on March 3.’”

For Alcaraz, it’s an opportunity to share the court with someone he idolized while growing up in Spain. In the midst of his prime, the 20-year-old star looks as if he could place his name alongside Nadal’s among the all-time greats in short order.

Nadal had an injury-laden 2023 during which he only played two official matches in defense of his Australian Open title, losing in straight sets in the second round to Mackenzie McDonald. He missed the entire clay court season, meaning that he was unable to add to his French Open legend as arguably the best ever to play the red courts at Roland-Garros. Nadal also missed the grass court and hard court seasons, leaving him out of Wimbledon and the U.S. Open. As a result, he dropped from the ATP’s top 100 rankings for the first time since 2003.

However, perhaps getting the bag from Netflix — at least for an exhibition — is the spark Nadal’s body needs to push on through 2024. In late September, the 22-time Grand Slam champion said that 2024 may be his last year of competitive tennis.

As much as some have pushed for Netflix to fully engage with live sports, the company has been understandably cautious on how to add these new events. Without direct rights to a league, team or governing body, it has created its own events, such as the “Netflix Cup,” a golf tournament that featured golf star Justin Thomas and Formula One racer Carlos Sainz.

Netflix put out feelers for live boxing before Premier Boxing Champions signed a new deal wit Amazon’s Prime Video. It has also expressed interest in bidding for the NBA’s in-season tournament, the new league fixture. The Los Angeles Lakers won the inaugural NBA Cup on Saturday.