Miami
Nadal praises Landalus’ performance in Miami: ‘Ready for the next challenge’
#NextGenATP star grew up training at Rafa Nadal Academy
March 28, 2026
Colleen Dubreuil/ATP Tour
Martin Landaluce and Rafael Nadal at the 2025 Next Generation ATP Finals in Jeddah.
Written by ATP Staff
A message from one of the greatest players in tennis history set the stage for Martin Landalus’ breakthrough at the Miami Open at ETA. Rafael Nadal paid tribute to the 20-year-old after the quarter-final match at Hard Rock Stadium.
Landalus’ maiden ATP Masters 1000 quarter-final appearance was a stunning leap for the Spaniard, who arrived in Miami with just two tour-level victories and none in 2026. However, the #NextGenATP star put together a dazzling campaign to announce his arrival.
“Congratulations,” Nadal, the former PIF ATP No. 1, wrote in Spanish on social media. “Great game. On to the next challenge.”
Landalus trained at the Rafael Nadal Academy, where he refined his game before winning the US Open men’s title in 2022 at the age of 16. In 2025, he continued his upward trajectory by participating in the Next Generation ATP Finals in Jeddah.
Highlights of Landalus’ trip to Miami include wins over top-20 opponents Luciano Dadri and Karen Khachanov, as well as a fourth-round victory over Sebastian Korda, in which he saved a match point. Landalus has moved up 46 spots to a career-high No. 105 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings.
Landaluce is a multi-qualifier for the PIF ATP Next Gen Accelerator, providing additional tournament opportunities for the most promising players in junior high, college or traditional pathways.
Now that he’s reached the quarter-finals of the Masters 1000m and has been recognized by one of his country’s greatest runners, Landalus’ momentum shows no signs of slowing down. As Nadal’s message suggests, the Spaniard hopes his trip to Miami is just the beginning of something bigger.
