When Rafael Nadal announced his retirement from tennis on October 10, 2024, he also paid a loving tribute to his wife.
“My wife, Mery, and I have been together for 19 years. Thank you for everything you have done. You have been my perfect travel companion during all these years of my career,” Rafael said in his retirement statement.
“Coming home every day and seeing how my son is growing has been a force that has kept me alive and given me the energy necessary to continue.”
But who is the woman behind one of the greatest tennis players in the history of the game? Who is Rafael Nadal’s wife?
Who is Rafael married to in real life?
Rafael Nadal first met María ‘Mery’ Francisca Perelló Pascual through his younger sister Maria Isabel.
Rafael and Mery began dating in 2005, when he was 19 and she was 17. However, it wasn’t until 2007 that the couple went public with their relationship.
Flashforward to early 2019, after Rafael and Mery had been together for more than 14 years, and the two got engaged.
And in October 2019, the couple tied the knot at the La Fortaleza castle in Port de Pollença, Majorca.
What does Nadal’s wife do?
Mery graduated with a business degree and first worked as a sports marketer in London.
However, after Rafael’s career really took off she began helping with his off-court business, the Fundación Rafa Nadal – which supports socially disadvantaged children and teenagers by providing them with education, sports programs, and personal development opportunities.
Mery has now worked for the Fundación Rafa Nadal for more than 12 years and is currently Director.
What is Rafa Nadal’s baby’s name?
On October 8, 2022, Rafael and Mery welcomed their first child into the world. A boy that they named Rafael Jr.
