The 2-year-old toddler was the fan most excited to see his father in action in Riyadh.
Rafael Nadal’s appearance at the Six Kings Slam in Riyadh this week was highly-aticipated before it began, as the penultimate competition of his tennis career before his retirement becomes official next month. But it was a different member of the his family who stole the show throughout the weekend in Saudi Arabia: Nadal’s 2-year-old son, Rafael Jr.
The youngest Nadal, who celebrated his birthday on Oct. 7, just three days before his father announced that next month’s Davis Cup Finals will be the final tournament of his professional career, has been a fixture at events on Nadal’s not-at-the-time official farewell tour this year, from his fifth and final Olympic berth to his return to the Nordea Open in Bastad, where Nadal reached the 131st and last ATP singles final of his career.
And in Riyadh, little Rafa was a fixture courtside in the arms of his mother, Nadal’s wife Maria Francisca Perello, as the former world No. 1 played Carlos Alcaraz and, later, Novak Djokovic for the final time in their storied rivalry.
Though Nadal said earlier this year that his wish for his son is to play a sport other than tennis, it was obvious that the toddler has picked up an appreciation for tennis: He was captured on camera more than once clapping in support of his father’s winners.
Two days earlier, Rafa Jr. was also a topic of conversation in Nadal’s on-court interview after he lost to Alcaraz 6-3, 6-3 in the semifinals, and was jointly interviewed with Alcaraz by broadcaster Andrew Castle.
“It must be nice to have baby Rafa here with your wife and family,” Castle said. “He thinks you’re great whether you win or lose … jumping up and down like crazy.”
“Well, I don’t think I’m great. Since he arrived to the world I lost more than I won,” Nadal said, to laughter and applause from the crowed.
“But at the same time, having him here helps all the tough moments I’ve been through the last couple of years,” the Spaniard added.
Trotting over courtside to his family after losing to Djokovic, Nadal melted hearts as he high-fived with Rafa Jr. and later spoke words from the heart to his wife for her years of support.
“My wife, Mery, we have been together for 19 years,” Nadal said in his post-match address to the arena. “Thank you for everything you have done. I think you have been the perfect travel companion during all these years of my career. To come home and see how my son is growing every day has been a force that has really kept me alive and with the necessary energy to continue.”
