Rafael Nadal Says He 'Protected' His Family and Wife Mery from the Media: 'They Were Happier Like This' (Exclusive)
Rafael Nadal Says He 'Protected' His Family and Wife Mery from the Media: 'They Were Happier Like This' (Exclusive)
Brendan LeFri, May 29, 2026 at 2:05 PM UTC
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Rafael Nadal and Mery Perelló
Credit: Juan Naharro Gimenez/Getty
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Rafael Nadal says keeping his family out of the spotlight allowed him to maintain a normal life at home
Nadal and his wife Mery Perelló, who married in 2019, share two sons, born in 2022 and 2025
His Netflix docuseries Rafa explores his tennis career and offers a rare glimpse into his private family life
During his two decades as a professional tennis player, Rafael Nadal managed to shield his family in Mallorca, Spain, from the effects of his worldwide fame.
Nadal, 39, became an international superstar when he won his first of 14 French Opens at age 19. His celebrity quickly grew beyond the court, extending into modeling for brands like Tommy Hilfiger, an appearance in Shakira’s 2010 “Gypsy” music video and an increased interest in his personal life.
Through it all, he has kept his loved ones, including his hometown sweetheart Mery “Xisca” Perelló — whom he married in 2019 — out of the spotlight.
Rafael Nadal and Mery Perelló
Credit: Fundacion Rafa Nadal via Getty
“My family preferred to stay a little bit away from all this attention,” Nadal tells PEOPLE ahead of the release of his Netflix docuseries Rafa on Friday, May 29.
Because his family maintained their privacy, Nadal says he could have “a very normal life” whenever he returned home.
“In some way, I protected all of them from this world, and I think they were happier like this,” adds the tennis legend, who hung up his racquet in 2024. “In a personal way, I was happier, too, that I was able to have a very private life when I was at home.”
After 14 years of dating, Nadal and Perelló, 37, got engaged in January 2019 and tied the knot later that October. They welcomed their first child, Rafael Jr., in 2022 and a second, Miquel, in 2025.
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In retirement, the former athlete has made a concerted effort to “spend as much time as possible” with his two sons.
“I love being a father,” he says. “It’s an amazing experience — one of the best ... I especially like to bring them to school in the morning, to pick them up in the afternoon.”
Rafael Nadal Jr. and Mery Perelló
Credit: Jean Catuffe/Getty
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He balances quality family time with work, remaining involved in running his tennis academy and philanthropic foundation.
For now, he says, “I’m enjoying both things.”
Rafa examines his accomplished career, from his breakout year to his decision to hang up the racquet. The four-part docuseries, directed by Emmy winner Zach Heinzerling, also gives a never-before-seen look into Nadal’s inner world and his home life with Perelló and Rafa Jr.
on People
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
