Rafael Nadal’s younger sister, Maribel, was spotted at the 2026 Miami, enjoying the live action between rising Spaniard Martin Landaluce and local favorite Sebastian Korda. After watching Landaluce stage an upset against the American, she sent him a glowing message.
Rafael Nadal’s Sister Reacts to Martin Landaluce’s Heroics at the Miami Open
Nadal, meanwhile, achieved another major accomplishment in his life, this time not in tennis, but in academics. The Spaniard shared this exciting news on social media, including images from the ceremony and a heartfelt message.
Nadal’s younger sister found herself near the tennis courts, watching the Spanish rising star Landaluce from his player’s box as he continued his incredible run at Hard Rock Stadium. She shared a clip from the match, showing Landaluce winning a point on his serve as the entire arena cheered.
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She wrote, “👏🏼Congratulations @martin_landalucee👏🏼We’re so excited to see you play!🤗” showing her support for the 20-year-old.
She shared another image with Antonio Arenas Ortiz and Ismael Luna Rey, captioning it, “Very special days with the team,” while tagging Rafa Nadal academy and both members’ Instagram accounts.
Landaluce, a Rafa Nadal Academy alum, stunned the 32nd seed, Korda, with a dominant performance, eliminating him from the tournament and taking revenge for fellow Spaniard, World No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz. He won the match 2-6, 7-6(6), 6-4 after losing the first set, mounting a comeback to take the second set in the tiebreak in just under two and a half hours.
The 20-year-old is now in the quarterfinals of the 2026 Miami Open, where he will face the 21st seed Jiří Lehečka. According to PFSN’s exclusive interactive simulator, the Spaniard has just over 15% chances of reaching the semifinals, but will be looking forward to delivering another upset.
While his sister showed up to support their academy’s alum in Miami, the Former World No. 1 received a doctorate degree from the Polytechnic University of Madrid on Tuesday, March 24. He shared this exciting news on social media, writing,
“Throughout my career, I have received various recognitions, but those coming from the academic world hold a special meaning, because they represent the respect of institutions dedicated to knowledge, education, and the progress of society.” (translated from Spanish)
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This shows that, despite being one of the most successful tennis players, Nadal values education and is still pursuing a college degree to achieve more accolades.
Not too long ago, back in October 2025, the Spanish legend received a similar doctorate degree from the University of Salamanca. He was made a doctor honoris causa by the university, becoming the first athlete to get his honor from the institution.
