,type=downsize)
Rafael Nadal’s family is growing once more. The legendary tennis player and his wife, Mery Perelló, are expecting their second child, as first reported by Semana and confirmed by ¡HOLA!. Mery is currently five months pregnant, with the baby expected to arrive this summer. The couple already shares a son, also named Rafa, who is now two and a half years old.
© Corbis via Getty ImagesThis pregnancy has been significantly easier for Mery compared to her first, which was marked by complications that led to her being hospitalized just weeks before giving birth.
The 38-year-old former athlete and his 36-year-old wife have built a lasting love story that began nearly 20 years ago. They met as teenagers in Manacor, their hometown in Mallorca, and have been together ever since. Known for keeping their personal lives private, Rafa and Mery married in 2019 after more than 14 years together. Their intimate ceremony, held at the 17th-century Sa Fortaleza estate in northern Mallorca, welcomed around 250 guests.
© Corbis via Getty ImagesThe couple has long been open about their desire to start a family. In a 2020 interview with Bertín Osborne on Mi casa es la tuya, Rafa said, “I would love to be a father. I always thought I’d become one after retiring—around 26—but here I am at 34.” That dream came true on October 8, 2022, with the birth of their son Rafa, a moment that brought profound happiness to both.
© AFP via Getty ImagesAs for whether he hopes his children will follow in his footsteps, Nadal has said he simply wants them to grow up with the values sports can teach—without necessarily steering them toward tennis. “The important thing is that they learn discipline, effort, and humility,” he told El Periódico de Cataluña.
© Getty ImagesThe past year has marked a turning point for Nadal. On October 10, 2024, he officially announced his retirement from professional tennis. In a heartfelt farewell video, he paid tribute to his family: “Family means everything to me.” To Mery and their son, he added, “Mery, my wife—we’ve been together 19 years—thank you for everything. You’ve been my perfect travel companion throughout my career. Coming home and seeing our son grow has been my source of strength.”
© NurPhoto via Getty ImagesIn November, he played his final match in the Davis Cup, a tournament he held dear. Surrounded by his parents, Sebastián and Ana María; his sister, Maribel; his wife; and their son, he bid an emotional goodbye to the sport that defined his life.
Since then, Nadal has taken a step back from the court and is relishing his time off—embracing the joys of family life and preparing for the arrival of their newest member.
