The director of the Rafa Nadal Tour by Santander, JF Fernández, took part in the official presentation of the 2026 Copa Sevilla, held this Thursday at the Real Club de Tenis Betis, where he highlighted the role of sport, and particularly tennis, as a tool for learning and development for children and young people.
JF Fernández’s invitation to the event was especially meaningful given the close connection between the Copa Sevilla and Rafa Nadal’s career. At just 15 years old, Rafa earned his first ATP points at this tournament, a milestone that marked the beginning of a career that would go on to make him one of the greatest tennis players in history. Years later, the tournament continues to be an important platform for young players taking their first steps in high-level tennis.
During his speech, JF Fernández highlighted the ability of sport to promote key values such as effort, commitment, sportsmanship and teamwork, lessons that go beyond sporting practice itself and support young people in their personal development.
In this regard, he also stressed the importance of young tennis players having access to high-level competitions that allow them to grow, gain experience and take on new challenges both on and off the court.
This vision is directly aligned with the philosophy of the Rafa Nadal Tour by Santander, an initiative promoted by the Rafa Nadal Foundation that combines sporting competition with the promotion of values among young tennis players. Through the circuit, participants not only have the opportunity to compete in high-level tournaments, but also to develop skills and attitudes that are important for their lives.
JF Fernández’s participation is part of the Rafa Nadal Foundation’s commitment to promoting sport as a vehicle for education and social transformation. Through its different initiatives, the Foundation works to help children and young people develop skills that can support them in building their future, using sport as a space for learning, coexistence and personal growth.
The 2026 Copa Sevilla, one of the longest-standing competitions on the Spanish tennis calendar, will take place from 7 to 13 September at the Real Club de Tenis Betis. The tournament will bring together prominent players from the national tennis scene, including Jaume Munar and Martín Landaluce, who also took part in several editions of the Rafa Nadal Tour.
The presentation brought together representatives of the Real Club de Tenis Betis, institutions, federations and partner organisations, who highlighted the importance of maintaining and strengthening competitions that help promote tennis and create opportunities for younger generations.
In this sense, Rafa Nadal’s history at the Copa Sevilla is a clear example of the value these tournaments can have for young talents: a tournament where, at just 15 years old, he earned his first ATP points and which today continues to offer new generations of tennis players the opportunity to grow through competition.