Netflix Announces Live Tennis Match Between Rafael Nadal, Carlos Alcaraz Coming in Spring
Netflix is continuing to slowly build out its offerings of live sports.
There’s a very clear strategy unfolding at Netflix when it comes to live sports. Its Netflix Cup live golf tournament from November was the service's first attempt at offering any sports event, and was packed with big-name personalities from its docuseries “Formula 1: Drive to Survive and “Full Swing.” The company is returning to that strategy for its next live sports event, a tennis match between two of the biggest names in the sport.
- Netflix will host a live tennis match between Carlos Alcaraz and Rafael Nadal on Sunday, March 3.
- Alcaraz is the second-ranked men’s tennis player in the world, while Nadal is a legend of the sport who may return for his last season in 2024.
- The tennis match leaves room for yet more questions about Netflix’s live sports intentions.
When and Where Will Netflix Host the ‘Netflix Slam’?
This live tennis match has been dubbed the “Netflix Slam,” and will be played on Sunday, March 3, 2024. The match will pit second-ranked ATP player Carlos Alcaraz vs. Rafael Nadal, a true clash of titans that will see two of Spain’s best contributions to the sport of tennis in decades.
“I’m honored and so happy to be sharing the court with Rafa in Las Vegas,” said Alcaraz, U.S. Open and Wimbledon champion. “He’s an all-time great, of course, and his records and achievements speak for themselves. Rafa also is one of the nicest guys on Tour and I look forward to our match on March 3.”
Nadal had struggles with injuries in his 2023 season, dropping out of the ATP Top 10 for the first time in 18 years. Nadal is still rehabbing that injury, but the Netflix Slam could be the launching point that helps vault him into a resurgent 2024 season.
“I’m very excited for my first visit to Las Vegas, one of the most iconic and entertaining cities in the world,” said Nadal. “I’m also very excited to be playing with my fellow countryman Carlos Alcaraz. I am sure it will be a fantastic night of tennis.”
The match will be played at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, NV. It is scheduled to begin at 3 p.m. ET on Sunday, March 3, 2024.
Where Does Netflix Stand With Live Sports?
A new live sporting event featuring big-name stars is in keeping with the strategy Netflix has pursued with its other sports ventures. As mentioned, its live golf tournament featured some of the biggest names in F1 racing and the PGA, including Alex Albon, Rickie Fowler, Pierre Gasly and Justin Thomas. Even its docuseries “Quarterback,” while not being a live event, had Patrick Mahomes as a headliner.
For all that star power, Netflix is following an approach that some sports fans might find irritatingly deliberate. In November, rumor began to circulate that the world’s largest streamer was finally about to take a big leap and make a play for a package of NBA rights in 2025, but the streamer quashed those rumors just days later.
Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos has been clear that his company won’t chase flashy live sports assets just for the sake of having them, and has been true to his word thus far. Netflix is one of the few streaming-forward media companies with the ammunition to actually pursue major sports, but its announcement of the Netflix Slam reinforces the fact that it wants to build its live sports offerings at its own pace.
Netflix
Netflix is a subscription video streaming service that includes on-demand access to 3,000+ movies, 2,000+ TV Shows, and Netflix Originals like Stranger Things, Squid Game, The Crown, Tiger King, and Bridgerton. They are constantly adding new shows and movies. Some of their Academy Award-winning exclusives include Roma, Marriage Story, Mank, and Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.