Rafael Nadal inaugurates tennis academy in Spanish hometown

MALLORCA, Spain (AP) Spanish tennis star Rafael Nadal inaugurated the Rafa Nadal Academy by Movistar on his home island of Mallorca on Wednesday.

Nadal was accompanied by long-time rival Roger Federer at the event in his hometown of Manacor.

''Today is the day when we finally launch something that has taken a lot of years of work and dedication,'' Nadal said. ''I still have years of tennis ahead of me, there is a future and this academy is part of this future.''

The academy, which opened for business in June, combines tennis training with schooling for promising players from the age of 12-18. Among its goals is to help its students who don't turn professional after leaving the academy to find scholarships to study at universities in the United States.

It is run by Rafael's coach and uncle, Toni Nadal.