Proceeds from the game, which will take place in front of 80,000 spectators in one of the world's most famous football arenas (pictured above), will be split between the Real Madrid and Rafa Nadal foundations to help people in need.

The game will take place on the same day that Spain meets the Republic of Ireland in football's European Championships – as a committed Real Madrid fan, it is sure to be a particularly special occasion for Spaniard Nadal.

The 10-times Grand Slam champion, 25, attends as many matches as he can at the Bernabéu while 24-year-old Djokovic has previously been a guest of honour at the club.

The duo has enjoyed an intense rivalry since the Serb overtook Nadal to become the world number one last year; the Spaniard currently holds a 16-14 edge in head to head matches on the ATP Tour.

They also faced each other in the first Grand Slam of 2012, with Djokovic overcoming Nadal in the Australian Open final in January.

The final set of that epic encounter established a record for the longest Grand Slam final in history, with Djokovic eventually prevailing 5-7, 6-4, 6-2, 6-7, 7-5 in Melbourne after almost six exhausting hours.

The charity meeting will also come just a fortnight after Wimbledon, where Djokovic (pictured below, on left with Nadal) will hope to retain the title he won last year when, again, he defeated Nadal.


It will also take place just before the start of the London 2012 Olympic Games tennis tournament, also being played on the hallowed grass courts in SW19.

On its club website, the nine-times European champions said: "Realmadrid Foundation and the Rafa Nadal Foundation share the desire to contribute to help those most in need wherever they are, and the firm intention of providing an opportunity for the future of disadvantaged children and youth through educational programmes and using the sport for social integration."

The Realmadrid Foundation has set up dozens of educational and sporting projects across the world; Nadal formed his foundation in 2008 and it has since worked with the Special Olympics and SOS Children's Villages Spain.

The club is also hoping the event will establish a new record for the number of spectators attending a tennis match.

The record stands at 35,681 for an exhibition match between top women's players Serena Williams, of the United States, and Belgium's Kim Clijsters in Brussels two years ago.

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