Netflix to stream 'Rafa' May 29

Netflix said “Rafa,” a documentary series about Rafael Nadal, will debut globally on May 29, adding a new sports title centered on the 22-time Grand Slam singles champion. The company announced the date alongside a teaser and first-look images on April 13, according to Netflix’s corporate news site. The series follows Nadal during what Netflix described as his final year on the ATP Tour in 2024. Netflix’s title page lists the program as a 2026 documentary series starring Nadal. ### Is “Rafa” a film or a series? Netflix described “Rafa” as a documentary series, not a standalone film. The company’s announcement said the project runs across four episodes and presents an “intimate” portrait of Nadal using archival material and behind-the-scenes access. (about.netflix.com) The Netflix title page also labels “Rafa” as a documentary series and limited series. That matters because early references to the project in outside reports have sometimes called it a documentary or film, while Netflix’s own materials consistently frame it as episodic. ### What period of Nadal’s career does it cover? Netflix said the series centers on Nadal’s final year on the ATP Tour in 2024. (about.netflix.com) The company said the episodes include access to Nadal, his family and his inner circle during that period, along with material from his personal archive. (netflix.com) A separate 2024 announcement from Netflix and Skydance Sports said the project would track Nadal through his comeback to competitive play after he missed much of 2023 because of injury. That earlier statement set the scope for a series focused both on his career record and his life away from the court. (about.netflix.com) ### Who is behind the project? Netflix and Skydance Sports announced the Nadal project together in 2024. The companies said at the time that the series would be developed with unprecedented access to the Spanish player during his return season. Rafael Nadal said in that 2024 announcement that he was sure the series would show his tennis career and personal life “in a way that really can’t be shown otherwise.” Netflix’s April 2026 release-date announcement did not change the core description, but added the premiere date, teaser and images. (about.netflix.com) ### What does Netflix say viewers will see? Netflix said the series includes never-before-seen archival footage and exclusive access to Nadal’s family and close circle. The company’s media-center synopsis says the series retraces Nadal’s career with testimony from people who know him best on and off the court, along with unseen moments meant to show the person behind the public record. (about.netflix.com) The official Netflix page summarizes the series more simply: as Nadal fights for a final triumph on court, he opens up about what shaped one of the greatest careers in tennis. The page also lists a teaser running just over one minute. ### How does this fit into Netflix’s sports push? Netflix has expanded its sports programming with documentary series, event programming and live sports experiments in recent years. (about.netflix.com) Nadal already has a recent connection to the platform through “The Netflix Slam,” an exhibition match against Carlos Alcaraz that Netflix carried live. (netflix.com) The Nadal series adds another athlete-led title to that lineup, but Netflix’s announcement focused on access and release timing rather than broader strategy. The company’s materials present “Rafa” as a character-driven sports documentary built around one player’s final season. (netflix.com) ### When and where can people watch it? May 29 is the global release date Netflix gave for “Rafa.” The company’s corporate news post said the series will premiere on Netflix that day, and the media-center page lists a May 29, 2026 U.S. release. Netflix’s official title page for “Rafa” is already live in multiple markets, including the United States, and carries the synopsis, teaser and program details. (about.netflix.com) On May 29, the four-episode series is scheduled to become available on the Netflix platform. (netflix.com)