Since the institution’s formation in 2016, the Rafa Nadal Academy has produced a host of promising ATP and WTA stars.
Casper Ruud, Jaume Munar and Alexandra Eala make up just some of the academy graduates who have reached startling heights in the sport.
Ruud is a multiple Grand Slam finalist, Munar is an established top 50 ATP player and Eala made her debut in a WTA 1000 final at the Miami Open this year.
The most exciting prospect could be Ivan Ivanov, who has won junior Grand Slam titles at Wimbledon and the US Open this year.
There is another burgeoning former junior world number one playing at Nadal’s academy who could rocket up the rankings in 2026.
Meet Alina Korneeva
Multiple junior Grand Slam winner Alina Korneeva is one of the brightest prospects making her name on the ITF Tour.
The former ITF junior world number one won two Grand Slam junior titles in 2023, at the Australian Open and French Open.
In 2024, she made her major debut in singles after qualifying for the Australian Open main draw. The Russian defeated Sara Sorribes Tormo in the first round, before losing to 10th seed Beatriz Haddad Maia.
Later that year, Korneeva reached her first WTA Tour semi-final at the Merida Open, losing to Zeynep Sonmez in the last four.
Korneeva, world number 191, has won seven of her eight ITF singles finals, most recently in Bratislava, Slovakia.
The Russian has also won ITF tournaments in Morocco, South Africa and Portugal.
The Rafa Nadal Academy sends a message to Korneeva
On Sunday, Alina Korneeva secured her third ITF title of the season in Bratislava, defeating Lucie Havlickova 7-6, 7-5 in the final.
On Instagram, a spokesman for the Rafa Nadal Academy said: “Third ITF title of the year!
“Huge congrats Alina Korneeva on winning the ITF World Tennis Tour tournament in Bratislava!
“What an amazing couple of months — full of hard work, passion, and great results. VAMOS.”
