Plans for a Rafa Nadal tennis academy in Malaga have moved a step closer.

It comes after the mayor confirmed that the tender documents for the proposed site are due to be approved next week.

The development is earmarked for the former Inacua racket centre on Malaga’s western seafront, close to the Martin Carpena sports arena.

The municipal complex has remained closed since the summer of 2025, but could be brought back into use under a new private operator.

Mayor Francisco de la Torre announced this week that Malaga City Council’s governing board expects to approve the conditions for a new concession next week.

Although the mayor did not name the prospective developers, the site is being targeted by Marbella-based Sierra Blanca Estates and Rafa Nadal’s team for a luxury tennis club carrying the retired Spanish star’s name.

The project was first unveiled in March 2023 but has remained on hold while the council prepared to put the publicly owned land out to tender.

Approval of the tender documents would not automatically award the site to the Nadal-backed project.

Because the facility stands on municipal land, the concession must be offered through an open competition in which other companies will also be entitled to submit proposals.

When it was originally announced, the development was promoted as the first Rafa Nadal Club outside the Balearic Islands, where the former world number one established his academy in Manacor, Mallorca.

The plans included clay and hard tennis courts, padel courts and a main show court with seating for competitions.

A separate building was expected to contain a gym, shop, restaurant and museum celebrating Nadal’s career.

The club was initially proposed for land next to the Martin Carpena arena, but that location was later abandoned and the project moved to the former Inacua complex.

Covering approximately 22,500 square metres, the Inacua Centro de Raqueta opened in July 2015 and was inaugurated by De la Torre.