Photo Credit: Getty Images
Tennis legend Rafael Nadal and his wife Mery "Xisca" Perelló have welcomed their second child, a boy named Miquel, according to local media reports from Mallorca. The couple's newest addition was born last week in Palma, with the name chosen as a tribute to Perelló's father, who passed away in April 2023 after a long illness.
Nadal, 39, and Perelló, 37, are already parents to two-year-old Rafael Jr., born in October 2022. Known for keeping their personal life out of the spotlight, the couple has not made a formal public announcement, and few details about the birth have been released. Perelló and Miquel returned home over the weekend.
The baby's arrival comes less than a year after Nadal announced his retirement from professional tennis. In October 2024, the 22-time Grand Slam champion revealed that the Davis Cup final in Malaga would be his last tournament. At the time, Nadal spoke candidly about the physical challenges of recent years, saying he could no longer compete without limitations.
In his farewell message, Nadal also expressed gratitude to his wife, acknowledging her support throughout their 19-year relationship. "Mery, thank you for everything you have done," he said, adding that coming home to see their son grow had been a powerful motivation to keep going during difficult moments.
Perelló, who stepped away from her career in insurance to become the project director for the Rafael Nadal Foundation, began dating Nadal in the mid-2000s. The pair became engaged in 2019 and married later that year in Mallorca.
Nadal has often described himself as a "family guy" and has spoken of his desire to have children, though his demanding sports career delayed that goal. "I would love to have children," he once said. "But the years keep passing, and I wanted to start when my sporting life allowed it."
In a recent interview, Nadal said fatherhood had given him new perspective: "Even if I've lost or gotten injured, coming home and seeing my son changes my mood completely." While he remains unsure whether either of his children will pursue tennis, Nadal insists he will support them in whatever paths they choose.
