22 Grand Slam titles and countless hearts - this is the legacy carried by Rafael Nadal. Thus, it was no surprise that the announcement of his retirement left sports enthusiasts worldwide feeling a sense of overwhelming sorrow. The Spanish tennis legend will play his last professional match at the Davis Cup Finals in Malaga in November. The admired 'King of Clay' had previously indicated that 2024 would be his last season after missing most of 2023 with a hip injury.
Rafa Announces Retirement
Nadal confirmed the news on October 10 in a heart-touching Instagram video. "I am here to let you know I am retiring from professional tennis. The reality is that it has been some difficult years, the last two especially. I don't think I have been able to play without limitations," 38-year-old Nadal expressed.
Nadal also took the opportunity to thank his family for their support. "My mother, I think she has made all the sacrifices she had to make so that we could always have everything. My wife, Mery; we’ve been together for 19 years. Thank you for everything you have done. I think you’ve been the perfect travel companion during all these years of my career," he expressed.
Who Is Maria Francisca Perello? All About Rafael Nadal's Wife
Born on July 7, 1988, in Spain, Maria Francisca Perello, also known as Xisca or Mery, is a business graduate. Initially, she began her career in insurance but later shifted and joined Nadal in managing his charitable children's sports organisation The Rafael Nadal Foundation, which was launched in 2008. She serves as project director for the organisation.
She grew up in Mallorca, an island off the coast of Spain. Nadal was born there too. While they started dating in 2005, the couple only got married in 2019 at La Fortaleza castle in Mallorca. The ceremony had 350 guests, which included actors British actors Tom Hiddleston, Olivia Colman and Hugh Laurie. The two do not have any children as of yet, since Nadal is busy with his career feels that he will not be able to give full attention to kids at the moment.
Perello and Nadal met long back and reportedly were introduced to each other by family friends. In 2005 they started dating after Nadal won his first Grand Slam which was the French Open title. Unlike many celebrity couples, not much is known about how their relationship flourished as from the beginning they kept it away from the public eye.
In 2011, Perello opened up about their relationship and talked about Nadal's schedules and his need for a private space while competing. She said, "He needs his space when he is competing, and just the idea of me hanging around and waiting on his needs all day tires me out." Unlike Nadal, Perello doesn't have a social media account and lives away from the public glare.
While many partners are often seen in the audience to cheer for tennis players, Perello does not often attend Nadal's games to avoid any distractions. In 2011, she told The Telegraph, "It would asphyxiate me. And then he would have to be worrying about me...No. If I followed him everywhere, I think there's a risk we might stop getting along."
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