Rafael Nadal’s baby son Rafa Jr. stole the show with his cute antics and expressions, as he watched his father play at the 2024 Paris Olympics. The one-year-old boy was spotted in the stands during Nadal’s opening doubles match on July 27, along with his mother Maria Francisca Perello, and his grandmother Ana Maria Parera.
Nadal and Alcaraz, who are representing Spain in the men’s doubles event, defeated the sixth-seeded Argentine duo of Maximo Gonzalez and Andres Molteni in straight sets 7-6(4), 6-4 to advance to the second round, where they will face either the Dutch duo of Tallon Griekspoor and Wesley Koolhof or the Hungarian pair of Marton Fucsovics and Fabian Marozsan.
Various pictures and videos from the match were shared online where Rafa Jr was seen sitting in the lap of his grandmother Ana Maria Parera, watching the match with curiosity and excitement. His mother and Spaniard’s wife Maria Francisca Perello was also by his side, cheering for her husband and his partner Carlos Alcaraz.
Check out pictures and videos from the match:
The Paris Olympics could be the 38-year-old’s last appearance at the prestigious event, as he has hinted at retirement after struggling with injuries and missing most of the 2023 season.
The 22-time Grand Slam champion has won two gold medals in his Olympic career, one in singles at Beijing 2008 and one in doubles at Rio 2016 with Marc Lopez.
Rafael Nadal also had the honor of carrying the Olympic torch alongside other tennis stars like Serena Williams, who has won three French Open titles, and Amelie Mauresmo, the former World No. 1 and Roland Garros tournament director.
Rafael Nadal faces Marton Fucsovics in Paris singles opener, eyes Novak Djokovic showdown
Rafael Nadal will begin his campaign for a third gold in Paris when he takes on Hungary’s Marton Fucsovics in the first round of the men’s singles event on July 28.
Fucsovics ranked 83rd in the world, will try to pull off a huge upset against the Spaniard, whom he has never faced before. The 32-year-old won a clay title at the Tiriac Open Bucharest in Romania in April 2024, where he defeated Mariano Navone 6-4, 7-5 in the final.
If Rafael Nadal gets past Fucsovics, he could face a blockbuster second-round clash with his longtime rival and top seed Novak Djokovic, who defeated Matthew Ebden 6-0, 6-1 to reach the second round.
The Serb and the Spaniard have played each other 59 times, with the former leading 30-29. They have also faced each other once at the Olympics, with Nadal winning 6-4, 1-6, 6-4 in the 2008 Beijing semifinals.
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Source: Los Angeles Times (edited)
