The story of Alex Eala and the Rafa Nadal Academy began at a children's clinic in Makati in 2015, and the academy in Manacor, Mallorca, has been her training base since 2018. Below: how she got there, the academy's programmes, fees, scholarships and clinics in Manila, as of 8 October 2026.
How did Alex Eala get into the Rafa Nadal Academy?
A clinic with Rafa and Toni Nadal at CSA Makati in 2015
On 6 December 2015 Rafael and Toni Nadal held the first Rafa Nadal Academy clinic in the Philippines at Colegio San Agustin Makati, the school Eala attended before moving to Spain. It was open by invitation to children aged 6 to 16. Alex, then ten, and her brother Miko both took part, and the school later called that day the moment she was first scouted. More on her early years: where Alex Eala started playing tennis.
Les Petits As 2018 and the scholarship offer
In January 2018 she won Les Petits As, the 14-and-under event in Tarbes, France, on a wildcard, beating Linda Noskova 5-7, 6-3, 7-6(5) in the final – the first wildcard champion in the tournament's history. The title caught the academy's attention: Alex and Miko were both offered scholarships and enrolled in the later part of 2018. Most sources say she was 13 when she moved. The terms of her scholarship were never published; some Philippine outlets called it a full scholarship.
Graduation in 2023 and her coaches in Manacor
Eala completed the academy's high-school programme in June 2023 and still trains in Manacor. Coaches linked to her time there include Daniel Gomez in her formative years, Joan Bosch – listed by the WTA as her current coach – and fitness coach Lluc Bauza; Sandro Viaene was her main coach ahead of the 2025 season, and Toni Nadal joined her team around the Miami Open 2025. Her results since then are on the page about Alex Eala's professional career.
The Rafa Nadal Academy in brief: address, courts and programmes
Founded by Rafael Nadal, the Rafa Nadal Academy by Movistar opened officially on 19 October 2016 with Toni Nadal as its first director. The official Rafa Nadal Academy address is Ctra. Calas de Mallorca, km 1.2, 07500 Manacor, Mallorca, Spain, about 30 to 35 minutes from Palma airport. The campus has 44 tennis courts – 22 hard and 22 clay – and a supervised junior residence.
Tennis & School and Tennis Plus
The main full-time programme for juniors is Tennis & School, for ages 12 to 18. It runs from September to June and combines 17 hours of tennis a week with fitness, full board and tournament coaching; tournament costs are extra. Classes are at the on-campus Rafa Nadal School, which teaches an American curriculum in English and awards an official high-school diploma recognised by the Spanish authorities. Players aged 16 and over can choose Tennis Plus: 23 hours of tennis a week, with online studies instead of the campus school.
How to apply
Applicants need an intermediate to advanced level, shown in a gameplay video or an in-person test. The published steps are:
- Player information and a tennis level assessment.
- Academic documents and English at B2 level or higher for non-native speakers.
- Interviews with the school and the residence team.
- Enrolment, then the student visa, which is the family's responsibility.
Rafa Nadal Academy fees: tuition and cost per year
The official website publishes no current prices for the annual programme, so every Rafa Nadal Academy tuition fee quoted online is either old or unofficial:
- 2015, disclosed by the academy before opening (local press): €56,000 per year for tennis, school and board.
- 2025, unofficial: about US$60,000 per year including school, according to former academy coach Francesco Mendo as quoted by tennis media.
For anyone searching the Rafa Nadal Academy price in pesos: at the European Central Bank reference rates of 8 October 2026 (€1 = PHP 70.475; US$1 = about PHP 63.00), the 2015 figure is roughly PHP 3.9 million and the 2025 estimate roughly PHP 3.8 million a year. These are conversions of old or second-hand figures, not current prices; travel and tournaments come on top.
Rafa Nadal Academy scholarship: who can get one?
The only public scheme is the Movistar scholarship, which in its 2020 and 2021–22 editions covered 25% of the programme price, was awarded on tennis and academic merit to players aged 12 to 18, and was open only to Spanish passport holders and residents of Spain. The official site describes no general scholarship for players from abroad: Eala's place was an individual offer after her Les Petits As title.
Rafa Nadal Academy in Manila: clinics and camps in the Philippines
There is no Rafa Nadal Academy branch in the Philippines, although Nadal said in 2015 that he hoped for one. In December 2025, ten years after the first visit, the academy ran a week-long clinic at CSA Makati with four of its coaches for players aged 8 to 18.
The same month, a Rafa Nadal Academy junior camp with EducaTennis for ages 8 to 18 was reported at Manila Polo Club from 1 to 5 December 2025; we could not confirm it on the academy's own website. No Manila dates for 2026 had been published as of 8 October 2026.
Other Asian players at the Rafa Nadal Academy
Eala is not the only Asian player trained in Manacor: besides her brother Miko, players linked to the academy include Hong Kong's Coleman Wong, a junior Grand Slam champion and academy alumnus; Japan's Naoya Honda, there since 2020, who won his first professional title at the academy in January 2025; and Jordan's Abdullah Shelbayh, who arrived at 14. Her own junior titles are listed on the page about Alex Eala at the Grand Slams.
Visiting Manacor: the Rafa Nadal Museum and summer camps
The Rafa Nadal Museum, still searched by many as the Rafa Nadal Museum Xperience, is on the academy grounds and opens daily from 10:00 to 18:30. Official prices on 8 October 2026: museum only from €20 for visitors aged 13 and over (€16 for residents), from €10 for children aged 6 to 12; museum plus a guided academy tour €35 (residents €27.50), children €12.50, reduced €28 (65 and over, visitors with disabilities, large families).
The Summer Tennis Camp Junior, for ages 8 to 18, runs from 30 May to 29 August 2027 in weeks from Sunday to Sunday, with 20.5 hours of tennis a week; English is the common language on court. Prices are on the official website, rafanadalacademy.com. More about her life off court is in the Alex Eala biography and our list of facts about Alex Eala.
Alex Eala and the Rafa Nadal Academy: frequently asked questions
How did Alex Eala get into the Rafa Nadal Academy?
She was first noticed at a clinic led by Rafael and Toni Nadal at CSA Makati on 6 December 2015. After her Les Petits As title in January 2018, the academy offered scholarships to her and her brother Miko, who both enrolled later that year.
Did Alex Eala get a scholarship at the Rafa Nadal Academy?
Yes, an individual offer after her Les Petits As title in 2018; its terms were never published. There is no published general scholarship for players from abroad.
How much does the Rafa Nadal Academy cost per year?
No official current fees are published. The academy disclosed €56,000 per year in 2015, and a former coach estimated about US$60,000 in 2025 – roughly PHP 3.9 million and PHP 3.8 million at the rates of 8 October 2026.
Is there a Rafa Nadal Academy in Manila?
No. Academy coaches ran clinics at Colegio San Agustin Makati in December 2015 and December 2025, and a junior camp at Manila Polo Club was reported in December 2025.
What is the address of the Rafa Nadal Academy?
Ctra. Calas de Mallorca, km 1.2, 07500 Manacor, Mallorca, Spain.