Rafael Nadal joins his little son in spreading joy across the tennis world! He has now reached his first final since winning the French Open in 2022. The 38-year-old tennis icon achieved this extraordinary feat at the Nordea Open by defeating Croatia’s Duje Ajdukovic in a three-set thriller on Saturday afternoon. Now he’ll take on Portugal’s Nuno Borges in the final of this tournament. His son, Rafa Jr. was spotted multiple times showcasing his adorable expressions during his father’s matches at the Nordic Open. Will he get the chance to see his father lift a title for the first time since his birth?
Well, the fans are quite optimistic about witnessing this heartwarming moment before the Paris Olympics. They have come up with a bunch of reactions showcasing their excitement on social media but before that let’s get into the moment first. How big is it for Rafael Nadal to make it into the finals after such a long gap?
Rafael Nadal is currently on a nine-match winning streak in Bastaad. He had lifted the trophy here in his previous appearance in 2005. Shortly after finishing the match, Nadal heaped praise on the Croatian for showcasing a valiant effort in the SF clash. He was even heard saying Ajdukovic has one of the “best backhands” that he has played against in his career. However, at the same time, Rafa also revealed that he’s “very happy” to win this hard-fought battle and make it to the finals.
The Spaniard further went on to add, “I am fighting during the whole tournament to be where I am today, and I think matches like yesterday’s, like today’s, help to improve a lot of things on the court. I am happy with that, and let’s see if I am able to play a little bit better tomorrow.” The final is surely gonna be one of the biggest matches of his career, especially after looking at all the things he had to go through in the last few months. His wife Maria Francisca and his little son will surely be there at the stands on Sunday. Here’s how fans have started to set the tone for this mega clash.
Fans obsessed over Rafael Nadal’s son being one match away from watching his dad lift his first title since his birth
On October 7, 2022, Rafael Nadal and his wife welcomed their first child. The 2022 season started off really well for the Spaniard, he won the AO and then went on to clinch the French Open as well. However, he was forced to withdraw from the SF match at Wimbledon due to a tear in his abdominal muscle. He returned at the Cincinnati Masters but had failed to regain that winning momentum since then. Nadal was defeated in the R4 of the US Open. Then even in the 2023 season, he struggled a lot with injuries and eventually his poor form led to an exit from the Top 100 after 20 consecutive years. So, on Sunday fans think, “Rafa Jr has the chance to see Rafa winning a title for the first time.“
Once during an interview, Nadal said, “Well, I would love to play a little bit longer and give him (Rafa Jr.) a memory of myself playing tennis.” However, the 38-year-old tennis star knows very well that it’s almost impossible for him to do that, but he’s happy to see him getting excited during his matches. So are his fans, “All match I kept saying “Let’s get the baby back out here with a little bucket hat on” so you’re welcome everybodyguys.” Fans couldn’t move their eyes off the cute Rafa Jr. with a tiny white hat on his head watching his dad do what he does the best.
A fan wrote, “God I love this family sm.
During the Madrid Open this season, Rafael Nadal spoke of his feelings about having his son watch him compete live. He said, “Have a son and come back home and see him and be a father is a completely different thing. The feeling is completely different to anything else, just have the chance to see him watching me play.” According to him seeing his son in the stands is quite similar to having “great memories” which are going to stay for the rest of his life. Even though he knows nothing about the sport, his presence matters the most to his father as well as his fans. Because fans believe, “Every time this child shows up on court he suddenly becomes Superman, I see how it is.“
Time and again we’ve seen how emotional his family gets watching him play in the tournaments in what probably is going to be the last season of his career. His wife and sister were in tears after his final match in Spain. Rafa has always showcased his gratitude to his family through his speeches. Once while speaking about his wife he revealed, “She has always helped me in everything I could and more, and she has always encouraged me to continue.” Now, Rafa Jr. is the new addition and he’s always there to lift up his dad during the matches.
Seeing the cute reactions from Rafael Nadal’s son, another one wrote, “Mi amor” which means “My Love” in Spanish. Share your thoughts too on this heartwarming moment featuring Rafa’s beautiful family.
