LAS VEGAS – The world’s top two men’s tennis players will square off in a special one-night championship match when all-time tennis great Rafael Nadal visits Las Vegas for the first time to meet current world No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz in “THE SLAM: Nadal vs. Alcaraz,” hosted by MGM Resorts International. The event is scheduled for Sunday, March 5 inside the MGM Grand Garden Arena with the winner taking home The Lion’s Cup presented by MGM Rewards.

“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’ll be playing with my fellow countryman Carlos Alcaraz who’s had an amazing year. It should be a great night of tennis at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.”

Nadal, a native of Mallorca, Spain, is the all-time leader with 22 Grand Slam men’s singles titles. The sport’s GOAT, for many, has won a record 14 Roland Garros titles and finished the 2022 season winning his 21st and 22nd Grand Slam Singles titles. He is the only men’s player in history to complete the career Grand Slam twice and win two Olympic Gold medals in both singles and doubles. Nadal has been ranked in the Top 10 for a record 885 consecutive weeks, including 209 total weeks at world No. 1, and currently sits at No. 2 in the ATP World Rankings.

Alcaraz said, “I’m honored and so happy to be sharing the court with Rafa in Las Vegas. 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 5.”

Alcaraz, coming off his first Grand Slam singles title at the United States (U.S.) Open in September, became the youngest-ever men’s world No. 1 at 19 years and four months, along with becoming the first teenager since 1973 to sit atop the ATP Tour rankings. Alcaraz propelled into the Top 10 in April 2022 after winning his first ATP Masters 1000 title at the Miami Open followed by his win at the Barcelona Open. Alcaraz won five titles overall in 2022 and reached the third round or better in all four of the year’s Grand Slam events.

In advance of their match, Nadal and Alcaraz will each participate in a 90-minute individual VIP clinic. The two clinics will be followed by tennis’ all-time winningest doubles team of identical twin brothers Bob and Mike Bryan as they take the court in a “celebrity” doubles match.

The Bryan brothers are considered the greatest doubles team of all-time. They held the world No. 1 doubles ranking for 438 weeks, longest in ATP Tour doubles history, and finished an ATP year-end No. 1 in the team rankings a record 10 times while together amassing 119 doubles titles. They have a total of 16 Grand Slam doubles titles together, one Olympic Gold and won seven of the eight Grand Slams in 2005 and 2006. The Bryan brothers retired in August 2020 to shift their priorities to the Bryan Brothers Foundation, providing opportunities for children in need through tennis and music to the arts.

Immediately following the tennis action, THE SLAM Gala supporting the MGM Resorts Foundation, Rafa Nadal Foundation and National Tennis Foundation will be held at Rivea and Skyfall at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino. Tickets for THE SLAM Gala are now on sale at mgmresortsfoundation.com. Guests who purchase tickets will have the opportunity to take their photo with Nadal.

MGM Resorts International launched exclusive VIP experiences in conjunction with ‘THE SLAM: Nadal vs. Alcaraz’ Sunday, March 5 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. Tennis fans can take advantage of first-of-their-kind event luxury packages, giving them up-close-and-personal access to two of the sport’s biggest stars.

‘THE SLAM: Nadal vs. Alcaraz’ pits tennis great Rafael Nadal, the sport’s all-time leader with22 Grand Slam singles titles, against current world No. 1, reigning U.S. Open champion and countryman Carlos Alcaraz in a special one-night championship match. The winner will take home The Lion’s Cup presented by MGM Rewards, marking the first time this trophy has been awarded to an MGM Resorts event champion.

Packages feature an array of accommodations, courtside seats for the match, food and beverage credit, and more:

THE ULTIMATE CHAMPIONS PACKAGE

• Starting at $33,699 per person, the Ultimate Champions package includes the exclusive opportunity to participate in a tennis clinic or round of golf at Shadow Creek with Nadal or Alcaraz, courtside seats to the match, a three-night ultra-luxury suite at either ARIA (Sky Suite Penthouse Strip View), Bellagio (Chairman’s, Presidential or Penthouse Suite), Vdara (one-bedroom Penthouse) or MGM Grand (two-bedroom Marquee Suite), and a $1,500 luxury dining food and beverage credit.
  • For more information, visit The Ultimate Champions

THE PERFECT MATCH

• Priced at $3,249 per person, the Perfect Match experience includes two (2) front row seats to the match, a three-night ultra-luxury suite at either ARIA (Sky Suite Penthouse Strip View), Bellagio (Penthouse Suite), Vdara (one-bedroom Penthouse) or MGM Grand (two-bedroom Marquee Suite), VIP access to On The Record Speakeasy and Club at Park MGM, and a $500 food and beverage credit.

THE COURTSIDE VIEW

• Priced at $1,149 per person, the Courtside View package features two (2) lower-level arena seats to the match, a three-night luxury suite stay at either ARIA, Bellagio, Delano, NoMad Las Vegas or MGM Grand, complimentary access to On The Record Speakeasy and Club at Park MGM, and a $250 food and beverage credit.

With the purchase of an Ultimate Champions, Perfect Match or Courtside View package, fans will have access to attend the event gala along with an option to purchase a seat at the same table with Nadal, Alcaraz or the legendary Bryan Brothers.

THE GALLERY PRO

• Priced at $739 per person, this experience is highlighted by two (2) lower-level arena seats to the match, a three-night luxury suite stay at either ARIA, Bellagio, Delano, NoMad Las Vegas or MGM Grand, complimentary access to On The Record Speakeasy and Club at Park MGM, and a $150 food and beverage credit.

Immediately following the tennis action, THE SLAM Gala supporting the MGM Resorts Foundation, Rafa Nadal Foundation and National Tennis Foundation will be held at Rivea and Skyfall at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino. Tickets for THE SLAM Gala are now on sale at mgmresortsfoundation.com. Guests who purchase tickets will have the opportunity to take their photo with Nadal.

VIP package information is available at The SLAM VIP Experiences. Individual match tickets for ‘THE SLAM: Nadal vs. Alcaraz’ at the MGM Grand Garden Arena are now on sale starting at $75, not including applicable service charges or fees, and can be purchased via axs.com.