Spanish tennis icon Rafael Nadal and his wife, Maria Francisca Perello, have ushered in a joyful new chapter in their lives with the recent arrival of their second child. The baby, Miquel, was born on August 7, and the couple, along with their newborn, reportedly left the hospital on August 9.
Rafael Nadal and Wife Maria Francisca Perello Embrace Parenthood for the Second Time
The couple had announced earlier in April that they were expecting their second child. Since then, Nadal has publicly acknowledged the joyous news at prestigious gatherings like the Laureus Awards. In fact, Maria Francisca Perello was spotted with a baby bump during the 22-time Major champion’s retirement tribute at the 2025 French Open. She was last spotted during the family’s trip to Disneyland Paris in June.
While Nadal graced his presence at Roland Garros, he opted not to visit Wimbledon and share the Royal Box with fellow legend Roger Federer, instead choosing to stay in Mallorca with his wife, who was eight months pregnant then.
“Honestly no, I’ve had a change of life. I’m enjoying the tournament from a different perspective. I hope in the future I can go back to Wimbledon. Now I’m in a different phase of life,” he said in an interview with the Times.
As noted, the baby was born just two days ago, and according to the Spanish media outlet Última Hora, Nadal’s closest family members have already had the chance to meet the little one. It is also worth mentioning that the newborn was named after Perello’s father, who sadly passed away in 2023.
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🇪🇸🥰 Rafael Nadal and his wife welcomed their second child – another boy – on August 7th! 👏
👶 He is named Miquel – after Mery’s father, who passed away in 2023
🗣️ https://t.co/T6nfYYSYWd
📸 Corbin via Getty Images pic.twitter.com/Jw6vP1aKms— Olly Tennis 🎾🇬🇧 (@Olly_Tennis_) August 9, 2025
Nadal and Perelló embraced parenthood for the first time in 2022 with the arrival of their elder son, Nadal Jr.
How Did Rafael Nadal Forge Such a Deep Bond With Perello?
Nadal and Perello first connected as teenagers, aged 19 and 17 respectively, and their bond has only strengthened over time. The duo kept their relationship mostly out of the public eye, with Perello appearing sparingly at the former World No. 1’s matches.
Following close to 14 years of dating, the duo tied the knot in an intimate ceremony in Mallorca in 2019, amid close family and friends. Perello, who is also from Mallorca, completed her graduation in business management from the University of the Balearic Islands, and currently serves as the project director for the “Rafael Nadal Foundation”.
Rafa Nadal playing with Baby Rafa is the cutest thing you’ll see all week.
He swings him in his arms and kisses him on the cheek.
Pure love, nothing else. 🥹
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) May 28, 2024
Perello frequently attended Nadal’s matches, sometimes accompanied by their elder son, who won hearts with his adorable actions. The Spaniard’s legendary career is defined by an astonishing 96 tour titles, including 22 Grand Slams and 36 Masters 1000 trophies. Known as ‘the King of Clay,’ Nadal has won 63 titles on the surface, including 14 French Open titles.
Last year marked a profoundly emotional chapter for Nadal, as he bid farewell to competitive tennis with his final match at the Davis Cup quarterfinals. However, Team Spain’s loss to the Netherlands marked Nadal’s swansong.
