Rafael Nadal calls out Andy Murray as Scot's return to tennis court confirmed

Rafael Nadal has called out Andy Murray and challenged him at both tennis and golf to mark a special milestone for the Rafa Nadal Academy. The facility, located in Nadal's home town of Manacor in Spain, will celebrate its 10th anniversary next month. To commemorate the occasion, a special tournament will take place featuring some of the biggest names in tennis.

The team event, named the Rafa Nadal Academy Slam, will take place on October 3. Murray has agreed to captain the side that will face Nadal's squad after he was called out by the Spaniard in a social media video. Nadal sent his former rival a lengthy voice note, asking him to join the celebrations and inviting him to play golf as well.

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Nadal said: "Hello Andy, how are you doing? I didn't call you because I'm sure you're playing golf and I don't like to disturb you. But hey, we are celebrating the 10th anniversary of the academy here in Mallorca.

"It's going to be on October 3 and I thought maybe you can home here, maybe we can play a golf match before the celebration. I know you have been practicing a lot, like a professional almost.

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"I am not able to practice as much as you, but I think I can still be competitive, so we can have a good match, maybe.

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"A day later, maybe you can pick up some of your friends and I will pick up some of my friends and maybe do a team competition here in the academy to celebrate the 10th anniversary.

"You've been here practicing a couple of times. Let me know your thoughts. If you can, it would be something fantastic for everyone in the academy here to welcome you back. Hope you are doing well, my friend, and see you soon. Let me know. Thank you."

The video then showed Murray replying to Nadal's voice note with the following message: "Hi Rafa! I'm in."

The tournament will mark Murray’s third visit to the Rafa Nadal Academy, having travelled there in 2016 for a training session before returning in 2019 to compete at the Rafa Nadal Open.

His meeting with Nadal next month will represent their first showdown in over a decade. They last faced each other in the semi-finals of the Madrid Open in 2016, with Murray winning in straight sets on that occasion.

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