"She is a lovely person, she is probably the woman of my life" - When Rafael Nadal opened up about relationship with wife Maria Francisca Perello
Rafael Nadal once spoke about his wife, Maria Francisca Perello, gushing that she was the "woman of his life." His comments came four years before they got married.
Nadal and Maria have been in a long-term relationship since their teenage years, having first met in their hometown of Manacor, Mallorca. They kept their relationship private for years, with her rarely making public appearances during his tennis matches.
After dating for 14 years, they tied the knot in October 2019 in a romantic ceremony at a fortress in Mallorca, surrounded by close family and friends. Maria, who studied business and worked in insurance, is also the project director for the Rafa Nadal Foundation.
In an interview with Harper's BAZAAR in 2015, Nadal spoke about the love of his life and said:
"She is a lovely person, I feel great with her and [she] is probably the woman of my life."
The couple welcomed their first child, a baby boy, in October 2022, starting a new chapter in their relationship. Since then, Maria and their son have frequently attended the 22-time Grand Slam champion's matches to cheer him on.
Rafael Nadal credits his wife Maria for "helping" him deal with parenthood
When Rafael Nadal's wife, Maria Francisca Perello, was pregnant with their son, reports emerged that she had to be hospitalized due to a medical emergency while Nadal was fulfilling his commitments on the ATP Tour.
In an interview with Spanish daily 'Diario AS,' in December 2022, Rafael Nadal opened up about that challenging period, acknowledging how tough it was for him. He credited his "brave" wife for helping him through parenthood and constantly encouraging him to keep pursuing his tennis career.
"It was harder than the final part, when things were written that were not without having the information and there were normal nerves, the most complicated phase and a lot of uncertainty in the summer, just before leaving for Montreal and Cincinnati," Nadal said.
"Luckily, I have a woman who is brave and she has always helped me in everything I could and more, and she has always encouraged me to continue. So, in that sense, she made it easy for me," he added.
The 22-time Grand Slam champion then spoke about suffering an abdominal injury at the US Open that year and how challenging it was to balance everything. However, he added that things worked out in the end, as he was able to be with his wife in Mallorca in time for the birth of their son.
"In those moments, I really couldn't manage everything," Nadal said. "After that everything went well," Nadal said. "I returned. I was able to be with my wife, enjoy myself and see the birth of my son. It affected me as it would affect anyone."