Rafael Nadal is enjoying his retirement life, trading his racquets for fishing rods and family time on the Mediterranean Sea. Recent social media posts show the heartwarming moments of the 22-time Grand Slam champion spending quality time with his family, including his three-year-old son, Rafael Jr.
Rafael Nadal and Mini-Me Son Rafa Jr Twin During Family Outing
In photos shared by a fan page on X, Nadal and his “mini-me,” Rafa Jr., were spotted aboard his luxurious 24-meter Sunreef power catamaran ‘Great White’ in Ibiza, twinning in matching light-blue, patterned swim trunks, while he taught his son to dive.
Rafa & his mini-me Rafa Jr twinning in their swim wear. How lovely to see him enjoying his family time in his boat in Mediterranean Sea swimming, fishing & teaching Rafa Jr how to dive & swim. 😍🥰@RafaelNadal🐐👑🥇#rafanadal9_seven 📸 ig pic.twitter.com/ZccqF9Nx0c
— Madel Suravilla (@madel_suravilla) July 24, 2026
In other pictures, Rafa Jr. proudly showed off his soccer fandom, wearing Kylian Mbappé’s No. 10 Real Madrid jersey. Nadal is a known lifelong fan of “Los Blancos” and was named an honorary member of the club in 2011.
The three-year-old also tried out fishing on the deck next to Nadal and his wife, Maria Francisca Perelló, who was holding their 11-month-old baby boy, Miquel.
Rafa Jr is fanboying-he’s a big fan of Kylian Mbappé Lottin, wearing his Real Madrid No.10 jersey. Luv Mbappé too JR. 😍🤩
Rafa Jr is such a cutie, just cuteness overload. 🥰😘@RafaelNadal 🐐👑🥇@KMbappe ⚽️#rafanadal9_seven 📸 ig pic.twitter.com/ZQMjTpPUUI
— Madel Suravilla (@madel_suravilla) July 24, 2026
While Nadal and his wife guard their family’s privacy, fans have caught a few glimpses of the toddler’s early tennis skills. At the Madrid Open this year, Rafa Jr. stole the spotlight by hitting tennis balls on the practice courts at the Bernabeu stadium, while his father played a friendly match alongside Jannik Sinner and Real Madrid players Thibaut Courtois and Jude Bellingham. The three-year-old was also seen adorably interacting with Iga Świątek during the event, with a high-five.
After stepping away from the sport in November 2024, concluding a career that included 92 ATP singles titles, including 22 Grand Slam titles and 14 French Open titles, Nadal is embracing a more relaxed pace of life, prioritizing time with his family.
In February, Nadal and his wife shared heartwarming moments on Instagram, introducing their son to skiing and building a snowman during a winter retreat in the Spanish Pyrenees. In March, he shared photos from a serene family vacation in the Exumas.
