Rafael NADAL (ESP) poses for photos with the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup after the Australian Open men’s singles final on Rod Laver Arena at Melbourne Park in Melbourne on Monday, January 31, 2022. MANDATORY PHOTO CREDIT Scott Barbour/TENNIS AUSTRALIA
New father Rafael Nadal will have to make the supreme effort to travel to Australia in January.
That’s the warning from Toni Nadal, uncle and former coach of his world-class nephew, who now boasts a weeks-old son.
The elder Nadal, who now runs Nadal’s tennis academy on the family’s home island of Mallorca said that the long trip to the Australian Open will be an emotional challenge for his 36-year-old nephew.
“Both Rafa and (wife) Xisca are very happy.,” Toni told the Mallorca Daily Bulletin. :
“She has had to rest in recent weeks (of her pregnancy) but it was nothing bad. Rafa is fine and very excited and I am sure he will be a great father.”
Toni added: “Rafa will (balance) the world of sports and fatherhood with total normality.
“It’s nothing special – many other athletes such as footballers also do this.”
But Nadal warned: “Travelling to Australia for the first time will be complicated.
But being away from your son is the price you have to pay.”
Nadal will get a taste of his new life next month when he embarks on a five-nation exhibition tour in far-away South and Central America with world NO. 3 Casper Ruud.
Main photo:- Rafa Nadal winning Australian Open 2022 – by Roger Parker International Sports Fotos Ltd
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