WATCH: Rafael Nadal's baby son steals the show, adorably applauds Spaniard's drop shot winner vs Novak Djokovic from mother's lap at Six Kings Slam
Rafael Nadal's baby son stole the spotlight at the Six Kings Slam while sitting in his mother Maria Francisca Perello's lap courtside. The toddler was captivated while watching his father compete against Novak Djokovic in one of the final matches of his illustrious career.
Nadal is set to end his career at the 2024 Davis Cup Finals in Malaga. In his emotional retirement announcement, the Spaniard thanked his wife Maria for her unconditional support over the years, affectionately calling her the "perfect travel companion." The 38-year-old also gave a heartwarming shoutout to his son for motivating him to prolong his career.
"My wife, Mery, we have been together for 19 years. 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," he said.
Rafael Nadal's wife and son have been supporting him at the Six Kings Slam exhibition event in Riyadh. They cheered the 38-year-old on from the sidelines during his highly anticipated battle against arch-rival Novak Djokovic for third place in the event.
Nadal's son was just as engrossed in the blockbuster clash as the enthusiastic crowd, adorably joining in the applause after his father's impressive drop shot winner.
Although the 22-time Grand Slam champion suffered a 6-2, 7-6(5) loss to Djokovic, he appeared in high spirits as he high-fived his son after the match.
Rafael Nadal joking blames his son for his decline: "Since he arrived to the world I lost more than I won"
Rafael Nadal's wife Maria Francisca Perello and his baby son were also in attendance for the Spaniard's semifinal clash against Carlos Alcaraz at the Six Kings Slam in Riyadh, where Alcaraz claimed a 6-3, 6-3 victory.
In his post-match interview, the 38-year-old jokingly blamed his son for his decline, quipping that he had lost more matches than he had won since the toddler's birth. However, he quickly emphasized that his son's presence helped him greatly during tough moments and praised the two-year-old for his well-behaved nature.
"Well I don’t think I’m great. Since he arrived to the world I lost more than I won. At the same time having him here helps all the tough moments I’ve been through the last couple of years. He behaves very well even when it’s late. I’m happy," he said.
Nadal will reunite with Alcaraz for his farewell at the 2024 Davis Cup Finals in Malaga, as Spain takes on the Netherlands in the quarterfinals of the prestigious team event.