Rafa Nadal celebrates 'family time' over the holidays in Mallorca

Rafael Nadal is spending his first Christmas as a retired man with the people that matter most to him. In new photos shared on Instagram, Nadal shared a look at his holiday season, one he has spent with his wife and child and also his cousins, aunts, and uncles. 

© Clive Brunskill

The photos were shared earlier this week, and show Nadal participating in some of his favorite activities. It kicks off with a photo of his entire family, with all of them smiling brightly for the camera as they completed a hike. 

Nadal wears a white cap and a matching shirt from his sports brand, known for its logo of a black bull. He's accompanied by his father, Sebastian Nadal, his mother, Ana Maria Perera, and his sister, Maribel. Some of his aunts, uncles, and cousins are also in the picture, including Marta Nadal. 

Rounding out the group are Nadal's wife, Mery Perello, and their son, Rafa, who's two years old. His face is covered by a heart emoji, with Nadal guarding his privacy. 

Nadal shared photos with his different family members, including one of himself and two younger men on the beach. The three are hugging, with their feet dipped in the water, enjoying the stunning views that Mallorca has to offer.

"Time to be with family," Nadal captioned the post, adding a heart emoji. 

Will Nadal's son also play tennis?

Over the past year, Nadal has discussed his career and his role as a father, something he confessed he'd been looking forward to his whole life. He also discussed the possibility of his son playing tennis in the future. 

He described himself as "a person who loves kids," to the Spanish outlet El Objetivo. "All my life I've been clear that I want to be a father. It hurts to say this, because of everything this sport has given me... if he wants to play tennis, I'll support him one hundred percent. But I would never stop him from doing anything. If he plays another sport, better."

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