Construction and renovation of clay courts at the Rafa Nadal Academy in Manacor
The project at the Rafa Nadal Academy has been conceived as a multi-year program to equip the center with a high-performance clay court complex and ensure its continuity with efficient maintenance operations. The objective has been to combine the classic feel of clay with modern processes that ensure game regularity and reliability throughout the entire season.
In 2020, we began the construction of new courts as part of the academy’s expansion. This action laid the groundwork for the surface model which has since been replicated across the rest of the facility: controlled layers, precise planimetry, accurately integrated lines, and humidity management that allows for working with narrow margins to maintain a stable bounce day after day.
Multi-year program that consolidates a high-performance clay court model, with controlled layers, precise planimetry, integrated lines, and fine humidity management, to replicate the same quality across all courts at the Rafa Nadal Academy with efficient maintenance operations.
In 2022, we resumed the second phase with the construction of six additional courts. The work focuses on replicating the same quality standard under a demanding schedule, optimizing logistics and processes so that the academy can add capacity without interrupting its activities. The result is a homogeneous complex, prepared to support a high volume of training, stays, and internal competition with an impeccable presentation.
In 2024, we are undertaking the comprehensive renovation of the surfaces most affected by intensive use. We begin with a complete scraping of the top layer to eliminate irregularities and restore a stable base, replace the lines, and spread the Greencourt Dynamic layer, which we level and compact until a uniform texture is achieved. We apply the Montroig Court sealant to improve cohesion, retain moisture uniformly after watering, and reduce dust, and conclude the process with fine leveling and irrigation adjustment to ensure regular moisture distribution across the entire court.
The impact for the academy is clear. The courts offer a clean and predictable bounce from one end to the other, sliding is controlled, and the more comfortable footing protects players’ joints. Operationally, corrective interventions and water consumption are reduced, recovery after rain is accelerated, and the tournament image is maintained in the daily operations of a high-performance center.
