Rafa Nadal celebrates a different birthday, with emotions that surpass any title. Away from professional tennis, he is living a present marked by family. By his side, always, is Xisca Perelló, the woman who has been with him since the very beginning.
The Manacor native blows out the candles with more reasons to smile than ever. Not only is he retired with every possible honor, but he will soon become a father for the second time. It is a stage full of calm, but also of excitement.
A new life far from the courts
This is his first birthday without tennis: there are no matches or training sessions. There is no pressure either, Nadal is facing something very different: pure fatherhood. This time, he will be able to experience it with a new perspective, freer and more present.
The news of the second pregnancy has come when his sports life is already behind him. His retirement was announced in October 2024, in a message that moved millions. In that video, his most heartfelt words were for Xisca: "Thank you for everything you've done. You've been my perfect travel companion."
Together, they have built a family with a solid foundation: they met in their youth and have spent more than 19 years sharing their journey. In 2019, they sealed their story with a wedding in Mallorca and three years later, in 2022, their first child arrived. Now they are joyfully expecting their second.
An unforgettable tribute in Paris
Although he no longer competes, Nadal remains a protagonist. The tribute he received at Roland Garros this year produced images that went around the world. On the Philippe Chatrier court, where he won 14 times, he was sent off as a living tennis legend.
His family was there, as always. His son went down with him to the clay court. It was a scene full of symbolism. It was the end of a glorious era, which began two decades earlier when, at just 19 years old, he lifted his first trophy in Paris.
The desired wish
In several interviews, Nadal had confessed his desire to become a father after retirement. Although life changed the order, he received it with gratitude. In 2020, he already said: "I'd love to be a father. I always thought about being one when I retired."
Although fatherhood came earlier, he has experienced it intensely. Not long ago, he explained how this new role has transformed him: "Coming home and seeing him changes your mood." He assures that, although he has lost matches or suffered injuries, having his son has kept him energized.
A life project beyond sports
Rafa Nadal has won almost everything in tennis. But now, his greatest project is something else. He is focusing on his home, his people, and the new baby on the way. He no longer seeks titles or records, only moments that were once impossible due to the demands of his career.
This week, marked by his birthday and family tranquility, represents the best summary of this new stage. Nadal is not just changing his routine. He is changing his direction. Together with Xisca, with whom he has shared triumphs and defeats, he is building a different present.
A slower-paced present, but just as intense. Because even though the spotlights are no longer on the court, his story is still being written. Now with new priorities and, above all, with much to celebrate.