In Pictures: Rafael Nadal's baby son & wife Maria Francisca Perello remain in high spirits despite Spaniard's heartbreaking Nordea Open final loss
Rafael Nadal was supported by his wife Maria Francisca Perello and baby son throughout the Nordea Open, and they were cheering him on for the final as well. The mother and son pair were in high spirits as they watched Nadal put up a valiant effort but fall short against Nuno Borges in what was his first final since May 2022.
Nadal was up against seventh-seed Borges after he went through a marathon four-hour quarterfinal and a long two-hour semifinal to reach the championship match at the ATP 250 event.
However, Borges, in his first ATP tour final, earned the title with a 6-3, 6-2 win. His clinical display helped him become only the second Portuguese to win an ATP title after Joao Sousa.
Nadal's wife and one-year-old son attended the final. The trio had arrived in Bastad, Sweden, amidst much fanfare and they had been together at the Spaniard's training sessions and matches. Despite watching the 38-year-old face defeat, Pirello and Rafa Jr. were in high spirits as they cheered for the tennis superstar.
Here are some pictures of the mother and son in the stands during the Nordea Open final.
"I really had fun on court, played some very long matches, today wasn’t my best day" - Rafael Nadal
Rafael Nadal took part in the Nordea Open to prepare for the upcoming Paris Olympics which will be played on the clay court.
The Spaniard even participated in the doubles event with Casper Ruud but had to withdraw from it before the semifinal on July 20. He had several grueling matches in the singles event and prioritized the singles final over the doubles.
Following his defeat to Nuno Borges, Nadal was quick to praise his level and claimed that the 27-year-old deserved to win his first title.
“Many congratulations to Nuno... You’ve been playing great during the whole week, so you deserve it more than anyone else here. Congratulations and enjoy your moment, it’s always special winning a title. I wish you all the very best for the rest of the season," Nadal said at the trophy ceremony.
“I have been here for the week enjoying this amazing place. I really had fun on court, played some very long matches. Today wasn’t my best day, but all the credit to Nuno. He played very well and it was so difficult for me, so well done," he added.
Rafael Nadal will soon travel to Paris to participate in his final Olympic Games. He will represent Spain in the singles as well as doubles events with Carlos Alcaraz.