Tennis legend Rafael Nadal has officially announced his retirement at the age of 38, closing a glorious chapter in the history of world tennis. After dominating the tennis world with 22 Grand Slam titles, especially a record 14 Roland Garros championships, Nadal will now enjoy a lavish life from the money he has earned.
Rafael Nadal has announced his retirement from tennis, ending a glittering career at the age of 38. In an emotional five-minute video posted on social media, the 22-time Grand Slam champion announced his plans. “I’m here to tell you that I’m retiring from professional tennis. The truth is that there have been some difficult years, especially the last two. I don’t think I can play without limits.”
Nadal has struggled with injuries in recent years and his playing time has been limited. However, Nadal retired as the king of the French Open, where he won a record 14 times. This impressive record has also helped Nadal build a huge fortune, estimated at £170 million, which has allowed him to enjoy a lavish lifestyle off the court.
While Nadal, like many other professional athletes, enjoys privacy, he gave us a glimpse of his stunning home in the Balearic Islands during the 2020 pandemic lockdown. The luxury villa, located on the coast of Majorca, is worth around £3 million. It covers an area of over 1,000 square metres. It is believed that Nadal spent seven years renovating the property and demolishing several buildings before it became his dream home. The home is where he retreats after intense matches and enjoys some private time with his partner Maria Francisca Perello, whom he married in 2019 after 14 years together.
Incredibly, in 2010, Nadal tried to fly economy class to the Match for Africa until rival Roger Federer offered him a lift in his private jet. Not wanting to be stranded again, Nadal decided to buy his own private jet – a £5 million Cessna Citation CJ2+. Only 223 of these jets were ever made and cost around £220,000 a year to maintain. The Cessna Citation CJ2+ can carry eight passengers in luxury.
Not forgetting what Federer did for him, Nadal flew Viktor Troicki to London on his jet after beating him in the Mercedes Cup final the day before. Troicki later thanked Nadal for flying him along and shared a photo with the former world No. 1 and the pilot on Twitter.
In addition to his private jet, Nadal also owns luxury yachts. In 2019, Nadal sold his 76-foot Italian-built motor yacht MCY 76, which he called Beethoven, for £2 million. He then added more money to his stunning customised Sunreef Power 80 catamaran for £4.5 million.
Built for long-distance cruising without sacrificing comfort, the 80 Sunreef Power is powered by two 1,200-horsepower engines. It features a private jet ski garage and a 39-foot beam with a superyacht-style flybridge, providing ample living space to accommodate a hot tub, bar, and waterfall pool. The main deck can be configured in a variety of ways, depending on your dining needs, with plenty of seating, an open galley, and bar. The master suite, also located on the main deck, offers ocean views and natural light thanks to a skylight. It has an en suite bathroom with shower, spacious closets, and a desk. There are four guest cabins and two crew cabins, accommodating up to 12 guests.
Although he spends most of his time traveling around the world, the only constant in his life is his true love, Maria.
Better known as Xisca Perello, she has never been one to hog the spotlight or the celebrity lifestyle. “That’s not a world I want to be a part of, nor do I think Rafa would choose to be with a woman who seeks that in life,” she once said.
They met in the early 2000s and were close friends before starting dating in 2005. They married in 2019 in a star-studded ceremony in front of around 350 guests at La Fortaleza Castle in Majorca. Three years after their wedding, Nadal and Xisca welcomed their first child, Rafa Junior, into the world, adding to their happiness.
